Ali Marpet Already A Floridian
May 9th, 2015
Bucs G Ali Marpet is already somewhat used to the Tampa Bay lifestyle.
Yeah, jumping from a Division-III tackle to an NFL guard overnight is going to be a transition for Bucs offensive linemen Ali Marpet. He doesn’t deny it.
However, Marpet may have an edge over anyone else in his Bucs rookie class. Marpet is essentially, a Tampa Bay area resident.
After practice yesterday, Marpet explained all of his ties to St. Petersburg.
“My sister goes to school at Eckerd College, my brother graduated from Eckerd College and my mom’s got a place in St. Petersburg,” Marpet said. “So it’s been an easy transition for me.”
Think about that. Once training camp is over, if he doesn’t want to, he doesn’t have to go apartment hunting in the area. He can live at his mom’s place across the bay.
Still, that cloud of being a Division-III player hangs over Marpet like a Florida summer afternoon cloudburst. Marpet accepts this labeling as both reality, and a motivating factor to prove his worth.
“It’s definitely a big difference,” Marpet said. “Even today [with just rookies], you could see the size and speed is different. I had a little taste of that in the Senior Bowl. It’s definitely going to be a challenge but I think I can adjust to it. I think the team thinks I can adjust to it and that’s why they picked me to come here. I’m pretty confident that I’ll be able to do that.”
Marpet confessed that when he and his roommate, Donovan Smith, have their heads in their playbooks, his head is “spinning.” When training camp begins, Marpet is expected to be going against Gerald McCoy on a daily basis.
“He’ll make me a better player, so I’m excited about that,” Marpet said.
To hear more from Marpet, click the black button below. Audio player courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.
May 9th, 2015 at 12:02 pm
happy for this guy
May 9th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Going against GMC daily will absolutely help Marpet….and, hopefully it will help GMC too…….livin’ with Mom is a good thing….as long as you don’t try to shoot her boyfriends.
May 9th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Does Eckerd play football? If so, draft his sister.
May 9th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Lovie and licht are gaing my trust back.thats going to be a monster line.glad Mankins is here to teach the kid.hes the line coach,not Warhop.
May 9th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Cool thing about Gerald , he’ll teach marpet.
May 9th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
I also have the gut feeling Marpet will have success with the Bucs.
May 9th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
This guy could end up being the steal of this draft if he can play up to his immense athletic talents. You can never have enough big guys with his kind of movement skills.
May 9th, 2015 at 1:25 pm
EXCELLENT!! If he can manage to just break even in his coming matchups with GMC during training camp, he’ll be well worth his weight in blocking.
May 9th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
Marpet is my pet! Go Bucs!
May 9th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Aunt Geraldine isn’t teaching anyone $hit but to talk, talk, talk, and talk some more. Big Brother Ali is going to manhandle Aunt Geraldine. It won’t be the first time that happens to Aunt Geraldine with a rookie.
May 9th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
I’ve been impressed how he interviewed. Yesterday, the way he handled the media. It was like a 7 year Pro.
May 9th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
Man we took a huuuuuuuuuggggge gamble him. I hope it works out.
May 9th, 2015 at 3:30 pm
Smart young man. Rooting for him!
May 9th, 2015 at 4:28 pm
C’mon, before we label the young lad -The next coming of Randall McDaniel.
Please have some patience.
(Review MathUp against Henry Anderson)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtzsgEgPhcs
May 9th, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Hope Marpet turns out to be a good NFL guard. We need one badly.
May 9th, 2015 at 11:33 pm
Was on my wishlist before anyone else brought him up.
He’s gold.