Xavier Fulton

Fulton played football at Homewood-Flossmoor High School from 2000–2004 for coach Tom Bailey.{{Citation |url=http://recruiting.scout.com/2/175210.html |title=Illinois Scores Big With The X-Factor |last=Pool |first=Chris |date=September 3, 2003 |work=Scout.com }} As a senior, he recorded 98 tackles, 58 solo stops, and 7.5 sacks, as well as, 17 quarterback hurries, three blocked field goals, three fumble recoveries, and five PBUs. Fulton was named to All-State teams by the Chicago Sun-Times, Champaign News-Gazette, and Illinois High School Coaches Association. He was also named an All-Area performer by Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Southtown, and Star Newspapers. Fulton was ranked as a Top-25 Illinois recruit by Rivals.com, ESPN, and The Insiders. He was also named SuperPrep All-Region. While at H-F, he lettered in football and wrestling. He is the son of Alma and Glen Fulton.

As one of the top defensive line recruits in the country, Fulton chose Illinois over Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern University, Indiana, and more than 20 other top schools.{{Citation |url=http://wisconsin.scout.com/2/116836.html |title=Fulton's Stock Rising |last=Whitworth |first=Ron |date=June 18, 2003 |work=Scout.com }}{{Citation |url=http://nebraska.scout.com/2/120370.html |title=Monster DT, looking at NU for official |date=June 10, 2003 |last=Ryan |first=Steve |work=Scout.com }}{{Citation |url=http://recruiting.scout.com/2/161436.html |title=Dominating D-Tackle – Xavier Fulton |last=Pool |first=Chris |date=July 24, 2003 }} He was recruited by Ron Turner and his staff.{{Citation |title=Fulton Commits With A Message |url=http://recruiting.scout.com/2/172300.html |work=Scout.com |date=August 26, 2003 |last=Pool |first=Chris }}

As a true freshman Fulton played as a defensive end in eight games and started three, collecting six tackles, two quarterback hurries and one PBU. He recorded one solo tackle, two QBH and one PBU vs. Michigan. He also recorded tackles vs. Minnesota, Indiana, and Northwestern.

As a sophomore, Fulton played and started in the first seven games of the season before suffering a season-ending knee injury at Penn State. Before his injury he registered 13 total tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a sack, and three quarterback hurries. He had a career game at Indiana, recording three solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a blocked extra point attempt. He also recorded three quarterback hurries in the season opener against Rutgers and posted a sack against San Jose State.

For his junior year, he took a medical redshirt year to rehab his injured knee from the previous season.

In his redshirt junior year, during spring practices in 2007, Fulton moved from defensive line to offensive line, specifically, from defensive end to offensive tackle.{{Citation |url=http://blogs.sj-r.com/illinitalk/index.php/2007/04/03/fulton-the-x-factor-after-position-change/ |title=Fulton the X factor after position change |last=Supinie |first=John |date=April 3, 2007 |work=Illini Talk }}{{Citation |url=http://www.herald-review.com/blogs/marktupper/?p=366 |title=Fulton has Zook smiling |last=Tupper |first=Mark |date=April 3, 2007 |work=Herald-Review }} Fulton impressed the coaches so much that in his first time playing offensive tackle at the college level, he started at left tackle for all 13 games and was in on 997 offensive snaps. He recorded a team-leading 109 knockdowns, and helped pave the way for 260 rushing yards at No. 1 Ohio State, quadrupling the Buckeyes' average rushing yards allowed. At Minnesota, he led the way for 655 total yards, the third-best single-game total in school history. At Syracuse, he led the way for 508 total yards and 378 rushing yards, Illinois' most rushing yards since 1998. At Missouri, he protected for 316 passing yards, the best Illini aerial performance since September 20, 2003, against Cal. Fulton finished the season with second-team All-Big Ten honors by both coaches and media, as well as, Rivals.com.{{Citation |url=http://bigten.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111907aaj.html |title=Big Ten Announces 2007 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors |date=November 19, 2007 |work=Big Ten Conference Website |access-date=February 18, 2009 |archive-date=November 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121221342/http://bigten.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111907aaj.html |url-status=dead }}

Fulton stayed for a fifth year and was part of an offensive line that has helped the Illini rank first in the Big Ten in total offense (448.3) and pass offense (274.5) and second in scoring offense (30.4) through 11 games. At Mizzou, he protected for 451 passing yards, the third-best passing total in Illinois history. Again, Fulton finished the season with second-team All-Big Ten honors by both coaches and media, as well as, Rivals.com. At Fulton's senior banquet, he was honored with the Bruce Capel Award for displaying the most courage, dedication and accomplishment throughout the season.{{Citation |url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/illini/2008/12/ |title=Big Ten hoops, here it is |last=Gould |first=Herb |date=December 29, 2008 |work=Inside Illinois sports }} Immediately following his senior year, he was invited to the 2009 Under Amour Senior Bowl and played for the North team.

In December 2008, Fulton graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

Fulton signed with agent Rick Smith from Priority Sports in Chicago.{{cite web|url=http://www.prioritysports.biz/football/RickSmith.html |title=Football: Priority Sports & Entertainment |publisher=prioritysports.biz |year=2014 |access-date=July 12, 2014}} He trained at D1 Sports Training in Franklin, Tennessee, a facility owned by Peyton Manning.{{cite web|url=http://d1sportstraining.blogspot.com/2009/02/get-to-know-combine-athlete-xavier.html |title=Get to Know Combine Athlete Xavier Fulton |publisher=D1 Sports |date=February 2, 2009 |access-date=July 12, 2014}} Fulton was one of only 300 top college football players to be invited to the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/xavier-fulton?id=71307 |title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles – Xavier Fulton |publisher=NFL |year=2014 |access-date=July 12, 2014}} Fulton posted phenomenal results at the 2009 Combine. He finished in the top 10 (OL) in 5 out of the 6 workouts: 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, & 20-yard shuttle.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80f2f9c3 |title=NFL Videos |work=Nfl.com |access-date=July 12, 2014}}

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His only workout that he did not finish in the top 10 was the bench press which is most likely due to his shoulder injury that he was having surgery on the week following the combine. He still posted an impressive 27 reps, only 3 away from a top 10 finish.{{Citation |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/02/21/scouting.combine/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225053140/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/02/21/scouting.combine/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 25, 2009 |title=Risers and sliders on offensive line at NFL combine |last=Pauline |first=Tony |date=February 21, 2009 |magazine=Sports Illustrated }} Fulton was the top rated offensive tackle from the Big Ten Conference.{{Citation |url=http://nflblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/anatomy-of-a-prospect-illinois.html |title=Anatomy of a prospect: Illinois OT Xavier Fulton |newspaper=Dallas Morning News |date=March 26, 2009 |last=Gosselin |first=Rick }}

Fulton was the 19th pick in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft, picked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He will be wearing the number 68 on his jersey,{{Citation |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/apr/28/freeman-other-bucs-rookies-choose-uniform-numbers/sports/ |title=Freeman, other Bucs rookies choose uniform numbers |date=April 28, 2009 |last=Kaufman |first=Ira |newspaper=Tampa Tribune }} the same as his collegiate number. On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, Fulton signed a four-year contract with the Buccaneers.{{Citation |url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/11/bucs-sign-rookie-ot-xavier-fulton/sports-bucs/ |title=Bucs sign rookie OT Xavier Fulton |date=June 11, 2009 |last=Cummings |first=Roy |newspaper=Tampa Tribune }} He was the first draft pick by Tampa to reach a contract agreement with the club.{{Citation |url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/newsdetail.aspx?newsid=7130 |title=Bucs Sign Fifth-Round Pick Fulton |date=June 10, 2009 |work=Buccaneers.com }}

Fulton played a majority of the four preseason games before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the final preseason game against the Houston Texans on September 4, 2009.{{Citation |url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/tampa-bay-buccaneers-give-backups-a-long-look-in-preseason-finale/1033951 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906114355/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/tampa-bay-buccaneers-give-backups-a-long-look-in-preseason-finale/1033951 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2009 |title=Tampa Bay Buccaneers give backups a long look in preseason finale |last=Holder |first=Stephen F. |date=September 5, 2009 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times }} Fulton was put on Injured Reserve for the season.{{Citation |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/story/1219819.html |title=Buccaneers chop Bryant, Cook, among 21 cuts |newspaper=Miami Herald |date=September 5, 2009 }}

After being drafted, Fulton signed a four-year endorsement deal with Nike.

Fulton was cut from the team on September 4, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/7429 |title=PR's All-Time Greatest Buccaneers: 11–15 |publisher=Pewter Report |access-date=July 12, 2014}}

On September 6, 2010, Fulton was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.{{cite web|last=Chappell |first=Mike |url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20100906/SPORTS03/100906009/Colts-sign-3-more-players-rounding-our-practice-squad |title=Full practice squad: Colts sign 3 more players |publisher=Indianapolis Star |date=September 6, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2014}} He was released on September 17.

Fulton was signed on November 10, 2010. He was released on November 30, 2010.{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/teams/san-francisco-49ers/transactions.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928040337/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/teams/san-francisco-49ers/transactions.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 28, 2009 | work=CNN | title=San Francisco 49ers Transactions, Signings, Cuts}}

Fulton was signed on December 20, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://blog.redskins.com/2010/12/22/redskins-make-a-whole-bunch-of-roster-moves/ |date=December 22, 2010 |title=Redskins make a whole bunch of roster moves |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223201305/http://blog.redskins.com/2010/12/22/redskins-make-a-whole-bunch-of-roster-moves/ |archive-date=December 23, 2010 }} On January 3, 2010, Fulton signed a futures contract with the team for the 2011 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.yardbarker.com/blog/nflbuzz/redskins_work_out_veteran_wide_receiver_haynesworth_shows_up/3902498 |title=Redskins work out veteran wide receiver; Haynesworth shows up |publisher=Yardbarker |date=January 4, 2011 |access-date=July 12, 2014}} He was waived on August 30, 2011.

During the NFL labor dispute, Fulton trained in boxing in addition to his football conditioning at the Academy of Human Performance.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/xavier-fulton-has-a-punchers-chance-with-redskins/2011/08/02/gIQA4IvUqI_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Mike | last=Jones | title=Stats, scores and schedules | date=August 2, 2011}}

On April 23, 2012, Fulton was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League from the Edmonton Eskimos, in exchange for a 6th round pick in the 2013 CFL draft.{{cite news| url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=394035 |title=Roughriders acquire offensive lineman Fulton from Eskimos | work=TSN.ca | date=April 23, 2012}} The Roughriders won the 101st Grey Cup in November 2013. Fulton re-signed with the Roughriders in May 2016. Fulton was traded to the Hamilton Tiger Cats on Monday October 10, 2016.

Fulton was traded from Hamilton to Montreal in 2017.

Fulton began boxing as a way to train for the NFL, most notably in the off-season prior to reporting for the Redskins training camp. In February 2012 he signed up for the Golden Gloves in Chicago and became a Golden Gloves Champion on April 13, 2012. In Fulton's boxing career he has stayed undefeated at 3–0.

Fulton's younger brother, Zach Fulton,{{Citation |url=http://edgytim.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=87935&sport=1 |title=Zach Fulton Recruiting Profile |work=Rivals.com |access-date=November 25, 2009 }} was an offensive lineman at the University of Tennessee.{{Citation |url=http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jun/30/offensive-linemen-fulton-pair-commit-to-play-for/ |title=Offensive linemen Fulton, Pair commit to play for Vols |newspaper=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=June 30, 2009 |last=Rucker |first=Wes }} Zach Fulton, drafted to Kansas City Chiefs.

Fulton is said to have a voice between James Earl Jones and Dennis Haysbert and has done voice-over work in the past.{{Citation |url=http://test.illinihq.com/news/football/2008/08/12/talk_of_the_football_town/ |title=Talk of the (Football) Town |work=IlliniHQ.com |last=Kelly |first=Steve |date=August 12, 2008 }}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141123224926/http://www.riderville.com/roster/show/id/4831 Saskatchewan Roughriders bio]
• [http://prod.www.49ers.clubs.nfl.com/team/roster/Xavier-Fulton/df1969f1-4f1a-4d74-9c0b-5dad530b3ac2 Official biography at 49ers.com]
• [http://www.tampabaybuccaneers.com/team/playerdetail.aspx?player=Fulton,Xavier,68 Official biography at Buccaneers.com]
• [http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/123007aab.html Official biography at Illinois] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105115804/http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/123007aab.html |date=January 5, 2008 }}

{{101st Grey Cup}}

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football offensive tackles

Category:Edmonton Elks players

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players

Category:Indianapolis Colts players

Category:Players of American football from Chicago

Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players

Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players

Category:Virginia Destroyers players

Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players

Category:Montreal Alouettes players

Category:Homewood-Flossmoor High School alumni

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen

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