After addressing needs at TE and S, the Buccaneers enhanced their QB corps by selecting Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton with the 234th selection.
Hamilton (5-10, 190) was a four-year starter for the Yellow Jackets, capping his career with a scintillating senior season. Hamilton won the Davey O'Brien Award and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting after completing 203 of 305 passes for 3,060 yards and 29 TDs. He also carried 154 times for 734 yards and six scores. His best game came against eventual national champion Florida State, when he completed 22 of 25 passes for 387 yards and four TDs.
"I think he's excited," Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy said. "I'm sure he felt that he would go a little higher, but once you're in the NFL, it doesn't matter where you're drafted. I think Joe can do all the things that we need him to do in this offense. The most important things a quarterback can do is make plays and win, and Joe did both of those things in college."
Hamilton earned All-ACC honors in both 1998 and 1999. He was a teammate of Courtney Brown, the top overall pick in this year's draft, at Macedonia High School in Alvin, S.C.
"I was waiting patiently," Hamilton said. "Tampa Bay has a player that is going to give all he can give. I just want to get to camp and start working."
