FAB 4. AUCLAIR IS THE SLEEPER OF BUCS’ UDFA CLASS
O.J. Howard, the Buccaneers’ first-round pick, is not only the rookie tight end that new tight ends coach Ben Steele should be excited about. The team also added Antony Auclair, a Canadian football player for the Université Laval Rouge et Or, a priority undrafted free agent, who signed a three-year deal with Tampa Bay.

Had USC defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu been drafted by the time the Bucs picked in the seventh round they would have drafted Auclair, who was one of Tampa Bay’s 30 pre-draft visitors after scouts attended his pro day where the 6-foot-5, 256-pounder ran a 4.82, jumped 33.5 inches and benched 22 reps of 225 pounds.

Bucs TE Antony Auclair – Photo courtesy of Laval

Auclair, whom the Bucs scouted in person at the East-West Shrine practices in St. Petersburg, Fla. in January, had 17 receptions for 229 yards and two touchdowns while proving to be a tremendous run blocker, helped Laval win the Vanier Cup. Auclair, who was the second-ranked prospect for the 2017 CFL draft, recorded six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in the Rouge et Or’s 31-26 triumph in the championship game over Calgary.

“When I visited the team they told me that the roster was filled with good tight ends,” Auclair told The Canadian Press. “But there are spots open for a ‘Y’ tight end, a guy who can block first and do routes and stuff also.”

I interviewed Auclair at the East-West Shrine practices where he first met with Bucs scouts and tight ends coach Ben Steele.

“I’ve talked to a few guys from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Auclair said with a French-Canadian accent. “I played Canadian football back in Canada with CFL rules, so I just want to show I can adapt to American football this week. Even though I’m from Canada I don’t play hockey, and I don’t even know how to skate. I know it’s kind of rare, but when winter came we were always outside playing snow football. I love the game.”

Two of the Bucs’ offseason signings, linebacker Jeff Knox and wide receiver Derel Walker, came from the Canadian Football League, but neither is Canadian. Auclair was born in Quebec and has a bright future in the CFL if the NFL doesn’t work out.

“I think I’m kind of known up in Canada,” Auclair said. “I think I’m projected to be the second overall pick in the first round in the CFL Draft right now, which is cool.”

But Auclair told he me that he had always dreamed of playing in the NFL and used the East-West Shrine practices as a good start his transition.

“I think I’m getting better every day by being here,” Auclair said. “The major difference for me up in Canada is we have a rule where the D-line lines up one yard away from the ball. Now the D-line is much closer. On run blocks things happen much faster.

“I’m a good run blocker, but think I can do both and be a combo guy in the NFL. What I need to work on is my deep route running. I truly want to make it in the NFL like Luke Wilson, the Canadian tight end for the Seattle Seahawks.”

Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter will likely keep at least four tight ends on the roster this year. Howard, Cameron Brate and Luke Stocker are locks, while the fourth tight end role will come down to a battle between Auclair, Tevin Westbrook and Alan Cross, who is more of a fullback or H-back than a true tight end.

“I think we had five last year at one point, so who knows?” Stocker said. “Dirk loves his tight ends. Obviously those last two roster spots come down to special teams.”

Neither Brate nor Stocker knew anything about Auclair, who brings an international flair with him to Tampa Bay.

“A Canadian? I’m sure that will add an interesting element to the room,” Brate said. “I didn’t know that. That will be cool. So he can speak some French, huh? I can’t say that I do. I know it’s a very romantic language. That’s about all I know about it.”

Expect Auclair to become well known at this week’s rookie mini-camp and in training camp – perhaps as a featured player on HBO’s Hard Knocks – as he’s an early favorite among Tampa Bay’s undrafted free agents to lock down a roster spot.