April 23, 2005
Notre Dame, Ind. – Former Notre Dame defensive end Justin Tuck was selected by the New York Giants in the third round on the first day of the 2005 National Football League (NFL) draft on Saturday. Tuck was drafted 74th overall by the Giants with the 10th pick in the third round.
Tuck, a native of Kellyton, Alabama, was voted the 2004 Notre Dame Monogram Club Most Valuable Player by his teammates. He broke the Notre Dame career record for quarterback sacks during the 2004 season when his team-leading six sacks gave him a total of 24.5 sacks for his career in just three seasons of action. Tuck garnered 43 tackles for loss, 164 total tackles and seven passes broken up.
In 2004, Tuck led the team in tackles for loss with 14 (for 57 yards), while notching 47 tackles to rank sixth on the team. Tuck achieved all of this after recovering from a major knee injury suffered in the 2003 season finale, returning to earn a starter’s role in 2004 and logging a career-high 263 minutes of playing time. Tuck, a management major in the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame, is schedule to receive his bachelor’s degree in May.
The 2005 NFL draft concludes on Sunday, April 24, with four more rounds of selections beginning at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). If any additional former Notre Dame players are chosen, information on those athletes will be available on www.und.com.