Joseph Noteboom continues recent TCU tradition of putting OL in the NFL

During day 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft, TCU OL Joseph Noteboom heard his name called. As Melissa wrote earlier, Noteboom is the highest TCU lineman drafted in the last 23 years.

Noteboom, who started every game at left tackle for the Frogs over the past two seasons, and has 40 starts to his name over his career, will head west after a success career for Gary Patterson and TCU. The Plano native played in all 53 games of his career after redshirting in his first year on campus, earning Academic All-Big 12 honors in each season that he played. The tenth offensive lineman to be drafted into the NFL out of TCU during the Gary Patterson era, Noteboom has gone higher than any TCU lineman since 1995, when Barrett Robbins went to Oakland in the second round.

A stat like that may make you think that TCU doesn’t put linemen in the league very often, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

A slew of TCU offensive linemen have made their way to the NFL through the later rounds of the draft and undrafted free agency, and Noteboom could very well be joined by some other teammates on Saturday afternoon. Patrick Morris and Austin Schlottman both have a chance at being drafted in the later rounds of this year’s draft.

Let’s take a look at other TCU linemen in the league.

Aviante Collins | OT | Minnesota Vikings | 2017 Undrafted Free Agent

Collins wasn’t drafted in the 2017 draft, but he was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings after the fact as a UDFA, and stuck around to make the active roster. He appeared in three games for the Vikings over the course of the season, and showed some solid potential. While he wasn’t forced into early playing time like some of the other guys on this list, Collins has the size and skills to make an impact in the league down the road.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai | OT | Philadelphia Eagles | Drafted: 2016, 5th round, #164 Overall

Big V heard his name called on Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft and was thrown into the fire almost immediately. After starting tackle Lane Johnson was suspended for 10 games, Vaitai started six consecutive games from week 5 to week 11 as a rookie, holding down the right side of the line, until an MCL sprain kept him out of the starting lineup the rest of the season.

Then, in 2017, Vaitai saw time at both right and left tackle, starting multiple games at both positions. When Jason Peters went down for the rest of the season, Vaitai stepped in at left tackle and was an integral piece of the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl Championship run.

Joey Hunt | C | Seattle Seahawks | Drafted: 2016, 6th round, #215 Overall

Hunt has spent time on both the practice squad and the active roster for the Seahawks, seeing a little playing time in the midst of several injuries along Seattle’s offensive line. Hunt is a more-than-serviceable center, and should be able to stick around in the league.

Marcus Cannon | OT | New England Patriots | Drafted: 2011, 5th round, #138 Overall

Cannon probably should have been the highest drafted lineman since Barrett Robbins in ‘95, but a bout with non-hodgkins lymphoma hurt his draft stock. The Patriots took Cannon in the fifth round, several rounds after he was projected to go, and stored him on the non-football injury list while he went through chemotherapy.

Cannon’s story is well-known among TCU fans now. He has been a staple on the right side of the Patriots’ line for the last seven seasons, earning second-team All Pro honors in 2016, and helping Tom Brady and Co. reach the Super Bowl four times, winning the championship twice.

Marshall Newhouse | OT | Oakland Raiders | Drafted: 2010, 5th round, #169 Overall

Newhouse has been around the league for the better part of a decade, and has one of the most entertaining Twitter accounts for any pro Frog.

More importantly, though, Newhouse has contributed in significant ways along offensive lines for the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, and now, the Oakland Raiders. He’s protected Aaron Rodgers, former teammate Andy Dalton, Eli Manning, and now, Derek Carr. Teams don’t just trust anyone to protect those types of franchise players.

Newhouse was drafted by the Packers, and he started 13 games for Green Bay at left tackle in 2011, when Green Bay went on to win the Super Bowl.

Other OL drafted/signed from TCU to the NFL in the Gary Patterson era:

• Tayo Fabuluje - Drafted in 2015 by the Chicago Bears (2 years in the league) | Round 6, No. 183 Overall
• James Dunbar - UDFA in 2014, signed with the Chicago Bears (1 year in the league)
• Jake Kirkpatrick - UDFA in 2011, signed with the Indianapolis Colts (1 year in the league)
• Clint Gresham - UDFA in 2010, signed with the New Orleans Saints (won Super Bowl with Seattle Seahawks, 6 years in the league)
• Blake Schlueter - Drafted in 2009 by the Denver Broncos (2 years in the league) | Round 7, No. 225 Overall
• Herb Taylor - Drafted in 2007 by the Kansas City Chiefs (6 years in the league) | Round 6, No. 196 Overall
• Michael Toudouze - Drafted in 2006 by the Indianapolis Colts (7 years in the league) | Round 5, No. 162 Overall
• Anthony Alabi - Drafted in 2005 by the Miami Dolphins (4 years in the league) | Round 5, No. 162 Overall
• Zach Bray - UDFA in 2003, signed with the St. Louis Rams (1 year in league)