The 1983 Buccaneer draft review
The Bucs drafted alternatively 18, 17, 16, 15 and 19th through the 12 rounds of this draft. The additional 6th round pick
came in return for a 4th round pick the following year from the 49ers. The 1st round pick was sent to Chicago as part of
the 1982 deal that allowed the Bucs to select Booker Reese.
DRAFT ANALYSIS - The grade has to go down because of the effects of the ghastly Reese selection from 1982. Grimes
and Castille were good choices but pretty much the rest of the draft was a complete washout.
Randy Grimes
Jeremiah Castille
Kelly Thomas
Tony Chickillo
Ken Kaplan
Hasson Arbubakrr
1 - traded to Chicago for a 1982 second-round pick
The Bears took Willie Gault with this pick - he merely led their receiving corps through their glory years. We had Booker Reese. Nuff said.
2 - C - Randy Grimes - Baylor
Succeeded Steve Wilson as the starting center in 1984 and held the role for the next eight seasons. A solid dependable pro and an excellent draft
pick. Became one of the most popular players on and off the field in franchise history.
3 - CB - Jeremiah Castille - Alabama
Even back in the 80s, the Bucs were picking good cornerbacks in the 3rd round (Abraham, Barber and Smith to follow). Castille started for several
seasons for some terrible Buc defenses.
4 - T - Kelly Thomas - USC
Two year starter on both ends of the offensive line but was nothing really special though.
5 - NT - Tony Chickillo - Miami
Sat out the 1983 season having been injured in the third pre-season game that year. Did not make the 1984 team out of camp. Saw brief playing
time in San Diego in 1984 and 1985 and then wound up playing two games on offense for the New York Jets during the 1987 players' strike
games.
6 - TE - Gene Branton - Texas Southern
The Bucs traded a 1984 4th round pick for the chance to take Branton. Whatever one of the scouts saw in college never materialised in the pros.
He was always injured and never caught a single pass in his Buccaneer career.
6 - T - Ken Kaplan - New Hampshire
Spent a couple of seasons with the Bucs as a back-up lineman having missed his entire rookie year through injury.
7 - RB - Weldon Ledbetter - Oklahoma
Never played football in the NFL at all. Gained 585 yards on 111 carries in his senior year as a Sooner but did not make it in the NFL.
8 - LB - John Samuelson - Azusa Pacific
Never played football in the NFL at all. Played at a very small college and despite picking off nine passes in his final two years, did not have what it
took to play in the pros.
9 - DE - Hasson Arbubakrr - Texas Tech
Played one season for the Bucs mainly on special teams but did earn one start on the defensive line. Started for two seasons in college having
transferred from junior college at a sophomore. Was originally a wide receiver in high school.
10 - WR - Darius Durham - San Diego State
Never played football in the NFL at all. Had nearly 2,000 yards receiving in four seasons for the Aztecs but it was not enough to take his game to
the next playing level.
11 - TE - Mark Witte - North Texas State
Any time you get mileage from a late round pick you have to be happy, and Witte spent three seasons as the leader of the Buc special teams.
12 - NT - John Higginbotham - NE Oklahoma
Never played football in the NFL at all. Played three years in college having transferred from Oklahoma after his freshman year. Did not make it
through his rookie camp.
Mark Witte
Gene Branton
