Xavier Fulton OT 6'5 300 Illinois

Fulton earned playing time as a true freshman defensive tackle and was in on six tackles during the 2004 season. As a sophomore, he had 13 tackles, two for loss, and half a sack before a knee injury in the seventh game of the year ended his season. He took a redshirt year the following season to rehab the injury, and when he got back on the field made a position switch. He shifted over to the offensive line, and became a starter at left tackle. Fulton made a quick transition and earned All Big 10 2nd team honors.

Strengths

Fulton may be one of the best physical specimens among the offensive lineman in the draft. He has a great frame with the ability to pack on even more weight, is a great natural athlete, and is strong. Fulton is very nimble, showing the quick feet and agility to move well laterally and keep his man in front of him. Fulton also shows the strength to hold his ground at the point of attack and can push defenders back off the line in the running game. There is a lot of upside to Fulton’s game that has not been tapped yet.

Weaknesses

Experience is a big issue with Fulton. He has only one year of experience at offensive tackle before this season, and relies on his natural gifts too much. Fulton also must add a few pounds to his frame, as he has a lanky build and may not be the 300lbs he is listed at. Durability may also be a concern for him, as he has had knee, ankle, and shoulder injuries during his career.

Future

Fulton is the type of guy that some teams will fall in love with because of his raw physical ability. He has been a quick learner after switching to the offensive line, and that is positive in terms of how likely he is to reach his potential. He may need some time to develop his skills and bulk up a bit, but Fulton has the physical tools to develop into a very good NFL lineman in time.