Position: Tight end Height 1.98 m Name Luke Stocker Spouse Daine Karst (m. 2010) | College: Tennessee Weight 115 kg 40 yard dash time 4.68 seconds | |
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Date of birth: (1988-07-17) July 17, 1988 (age 27) High school: Berea (KY) Madison Southern NFL draft: 2011 / Round: 4 / Pick: 104 Role American football tight end Current team Tampa Bay Buccaneers (#88 / Tight end) Profiles | ||
Education University of Tennessee Place of birth: Lexington, Kentucky | ||
Luke stocker
Luke Stocker (July 17, 1988) is an American football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee, and was drafted by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
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College career
Stocker played tight end for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Professional career
Stocker was selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2011 NFL Draft and signed his contract worth four years on July 28, 2011. Stocker suffered his first injury on the first day he practiced, and was out for a few weeks recovering from a hip injury. He caught his first career pass against the Minnesota Vikings on September 18, 2011 for a 17-yard gain. He finished the season with 12 receptions for 92 yards and no touchdowns.
During the 2012 season under new head coach Greg Schiano, Stocker saw some slight improvement in play. He also was praised for being a good interior blocker but again had a season shortened by injuries. He finished his sophomore campaign with 16 receptions for 165 yards and 1 touchdown.
Stocker was injured during the 2013 season having been on injured reserve. No receptions recorded for the 2013 season.
2014 saw Stocker be healthy for a majority of the season only missing 2 games late in the season due to a concussion. Though his receiving stats were a low 7 receptions for 41 yards and no touchdowns his game took a turn in a more positive direction as an interior blocker as well as moving to Fullback in place of a suspended and injured Javorskie Lane. His ability to be an effective lead blocker earned great praise and a new role as a blocking full back after the team let last years lead blocking machine Erik Lorig go via free agency. He also was a solid special teams contributor.
On March 9, 2015, after a strong performance at full back and on special teams, the Buccaneers signed Stocker to a three-year contract extension.
