Chicago Bears Draft DB Kyle Fuller of Virginia Tech with 14th Pick in 1st Round of NFL Draft

The Bears have drafted DB Kyle Fuller from Virginia Tech with the 14th pick in the 1st round of the NFL Draft.

Highlights

Bio

2013 Second-Team All-American (Walter Camp) 2013 Coaches First-Team All-ACC 2013 Third-Team All-ACC 2012 Honorable Mention All-ACC 2012 Coaches All-ACC Honorable Mention 2011 Second-Team All-ACC

2013: One of the Hokies’ four permanent captains for 2013 … A second-team All-American by Walter Camp Foundation … A first-team All-ACC selection by the coaches and a third-team All-ACC selection by ACSMA … Played in nine games, making eight starts … Totaled 507 plays on the year, 438 on defense and 69 on special teams … Had 24 tackles, two interceptions and 10 breakups in his final season … Returned an interception for 11 yards, also adding four tackles and two breakups in the season opener against Alabama … Had a hurry and a tackle against Western Carolina … Made three tackles at East Carolina …Blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown while adding four breakups and four tackles in the triple overtime win over Marshall … Forced a fumble and made three tackles, two for loss, at Georgia Tech … Intercepted a pass to start the fourth quarter and finished the win over North Carolina making six tackles … Had three tackles and three breakups in the win over Pittsburgh … Saw limited action in the Duke and dressed but did not play at Boston College due to a groin injury … Made the start at Miami, but was in on just two defensive snaps and one special teams play … Did not dress for the Maryland game due to injury … Had surgery on Nov. 19 to repair a core muscle … Missed the Virginia game, as well as the Sun Bowl … Earned Super Iron Hokie honors in summer max testing … Earned Super Iron Hokie honors in summer max testing … Posted personal bests in the bench press (330), front squat (370) and power clean (305).

2012: An honorable mention All-ACC and Coaches’ All-ACC selection at corner … Started all 13 games … Played 749 defensive snaps and contributed on 77 special teams plays … Had 52 tackles, including 3.0 for loss … Also had two interceptions and five pass break-ups … Made a game-changing interception in overtime to get the Hokies the ball back and eventually claim victory over Georgia Tech … Intercepted a pass for the second-straight game against Austin Peay … Made three tackles in limited action at Pittsburgh, leaving the game early due to a shoulder injury … Broke up a pass against Bowling Green … Made six solo tackles against Cincinnati … Had six tackles and a break-up at North Carolina … Forced a fumble and made four tackles against Duke … Made four tackles at Miami … Had eight tackles, including one for loss against Florida State … Made six tackles at Boston College … Broke up two passes and made six tackles in the win over Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl … For the second straight year, was honored as the defensive player who demonstrated the most outstanding leadership during the off-season and spring practice … Had two tackles and intercepted a pass in the team’s first spring scrimmage … Posted three tackles and returned a kickoff 29 yards during the spring game … Named one of the Hokies’ permanent team captains for 2013.

2011: A second-team All-ACC selection at corner … Started all 14 games at two different positions on the defense … Started at nickel back/whip linebacker for seven games and corner for the other seven games … Played over 850 snaps on defense and 112 on special teams … Had 65 tackles, a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks on the season … Also added seven pass breakups, two interceptions, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Was in on four tackles, including two for losses against Appalachian State … Recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter … Had four tackles, including three solo and two tackles for lost yardage at East Carolina … Also had first career interception and was credited with a pass break up … Posted a team-high 44 points in the coaches’ grading at ECU … Named ACC Defensive Back of the Week on Sept. 12 following the ECU game … Registered five tackles, including four solo, one and a half sacks, a breakup and two QB hurries in the win over Arkansas State … Also had a nine-yard punt return … Contributed four tackles, including three solo in the win at Marshall … Had two tackles in the Clemson game … Returned a punt nine yards … Posted eight tackles with six solo stops and a TFL in the win over Miami … Had three tackles at Wake Forest … Picked up a team-high four solo tackles, a TFL and two hurries against BC … Finished with five total stops … Had a big game at Duke, leading the team with eight tackles, including two for loss … Also had a sack for 10 lost yards, his first career fumble recovery and three pass breakups … Made a key open-field tackle on fourth down to stop Duke’s potential game-winning drive late in the game … Moved to whip linebacker for the Georgia Tech game … Started at whip against the Yellow Jackets and made four tackles … Returned to corner for the UNC game and had five tackles, including two TFL and a sack … Had four tackles, including a forced fumble on a sack late in the second quarter at Virginia … Started at whip in the ACC Championship Game against Clemson and tallied eight tackles, including two for lost yardage … Had an interception in the Sugar Bowl against Michigan … Won the President’s Award, given to the defensive player who demonstrates the most outstanding leadership during the off-season program and spring workouts.

2010: Started seven games as a true freshmen, primarily in the Hokies’ nickel defense … Posted 32 tackles, four for losses … Also broke up six passes and forced a fumble … Worked 10 special team plays in each of the Hokies’ first two games … Drew a start in the ECU game and contributed a pair of tackles … Was in on a tackle at BC … Saw action on special teams at NC State … Was in on 15 defensive plays and picked up a tackle against Central Michigan … Saw action on 13 plays in the Wake Forest game and contributed a pair of tackles … Played 70 snaps in a start against Duke and had five tackles and a breakup … Started in the Georgia Tech game, contributing five tackles and a pass breakup over 61 plays … Also started at Miami where he had five tackles, a TFL, forced a fumble and broke up a pass … Had a career-high 10 tackles, including three behind the line, and two pass breakups in a start against Virginia … Started in the ACC title game against FSU and in the Orange Bowl game … Had a 38 1/2-inch vertical jump in the fall and posted a 340-pound front squat during off-season testing … Contributed a tackle for loss and a pass breakup during the first full spring scrimmage … Intercepted a pass and returned it 17 yards during in the Maroon-White game.

High School: A talented player for Coach Chip Armstrong at Mount St. Joseph High … Named to PrepStar’s All-Atlantic Region Team as a defensive back … Listed as the No. 42 cornerback in the country by ESPN/Scouts Inc. … Ranked the No. 80 cornerback in the country by Scout.com … Ranked as the No. 14 player on the Mid-Atlantic (DC/Maryland area) 53 bySuperPrep … Played in the Maryland Crab Bowl, an all-star game, despite missing most of his senior season with a finger injury … A member of the SuperPrep Mid-Atlantic Team … Recorded one interception his senior year … Had four interceptions as a junior, returning two of those for touchdowns … Also had a punt return touchdown and kick return score that season.

Personal: Kyle Brandon Fuller … Born 2/16/92 in Baltimore, MD … Son of Vincent Fuller and Nina Dorsey-Fuller … Brother of former Hokies and former NFL player Vincent Fuller and former Tech receiver and current NFL player Corey Fuller, as well as Tech freshman Kendall Fuller … The cousin of former Tech player Damien Russell … Majoring in finance.

 Source – Virginia Tech’s Website 

 Pre-Draft Analysis

Sources from multiple teams said they really like Fuller and it looks like he could easily go as a top-32 pick. Some have him going in the middle of the first round. Fuller is a good man-cover corner who can play press man, off man and zone. He also can play some safety. 

At the Combine, Fuller showed surprising speed. With his man-coverage ability, instincts and versatility, he could be a steal late in the first round or early in the second round. WalterFootball.com knows teams that are really hoping Fuller makes it to early in the second round, but that’s looking increasingly unlikely. 

The 2013 season opener against Alabama gave Fuller the opportunity to be extremely impressive. He was excellent versus the Crimson Tide and did a superb job of smothering Amari Cooper in man coverage. Fuller had four tackles, an interception, at least one pass batted away, some good hits and solid play on special teams. 

Fuller kept up the impressive play in games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina. He had tight coverage and was superb in run defense. Tar Heels receiver Quinshad Davis beat Fuller for a touchdown on a double move, but Fuller had a pick and six tackles in the game. The senior totaled 24 tackles with two interceptions and 10 passes broken up in 2013. Injuries hurt him down the stretch and he missed a few games. 

8/17/13: Fuller played well last year with 46 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and three passes broken up. However, there were expectations for a big season and he was never really dominant. 

Fuller made six starts with 32 tackles and six passes broken up as a freshman in 2010. He improved his play in 2011 and started every game. The sophomore totaled 65 tackles with two interceptions, one forced fumble, and seven passes broken up. He was a Second-Team All-ACC selection. 

Fuller has some quickness to go along with his size, and could easily push his stock higher in the next year. Virginia Tech has been a factory for defensive backs, and he should enter the NFL with plus preparation. If Fuller can improve his interception totals and splash plays, his stock will rise. 

Personal: Finance major. Son of Vincent and Nina Dorsey-Fuller. Older brothers include former Tennessee Titan Vincent Fuller and current Lions wide receiver Corey Fuller. Younger brother Kendall was a top recruit for Virginia Tech. Source: Walter Football 

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