Gibson Will Compete For Time Behind John Lynch
The Buccaneers selected USC S David Gibson with their sixth-round pick, the 193rd selection overall.
Gibson (6-1, 210) started at strong safety last season for the Trojans, posting 81 tackles, 10 passes defensed and three INTs. He registered 85 stops, five pass break-ups and one INT his junior season as USC's starting weakside LB.
"We were looking for David at this position in the draft," Buccaneers assistant head coach/defensive backs coach Herman Edwards said. "We targeted him and he didn't go to the scouting combine, so we knew that there were only a couple of teams that would go after him.
"He has a tremendous upside and a tremendous amount of ability to help this team. He's a tough, physical player and a guy we feel can come in here and back up John (Lynch). We're very fortunate that he was still there and we're looking forward to having him on the team."
Gibson joins Shevin Smith and Dexter Jackson as reserve safeties behind Damien Robinson and Lynch, who earned first-team All-Pro honors last season.
"This is the team that I wanted to go to," Gibson said. "If it was like college, when there's a recruiting process, this is the place that I would have loved to go to. I'm excited to have the opportunity to play for Coach Dungy and Herm Edwards. Coach Edwards is a truthful, faithful guy who makes his players the best that they can be.
"I also like the fact that I'm going to play for Rich McKay, a former USC guy, and Brian Kelly, a guy that I played with here. It's good to come down to a familiar place and have that comfort zone."
Gibson lettered in football, baseball and track at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.
