Former Washington State defensive lineman, Darryl Paulo, signed an undrafted free agent contract today with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after not hearing his name get called during the 2016 NFL Draft, his agent announced via Twitter:
Excited as client, former @wsucougfb DL Darryl Paulo joins @TBBuccaneers pic.twitter.com/LBxw0IZU8Q
— Evan Brennan (@brennansports) May 2, 2016
The 6-foot-2, 260-lb lineman out of Sacramento, California earned his eventual role for the Cougars the hard way. Paulo didn't see the field in 2012 after he took his redshirt year and decided it was time to throw his name into the mix in 2013 when he had 9 tackles in just 5 games.
Coaches thought he did enough and earned more playing time and finished the 2014 season playing in 8 games and recording 18 tackles. Including a series of back to back games against Oregon and Utah where he recorded 9 total tackles.
Paulo finished last season leading the Cougars in tackles for a loss with 13.5 and finished 10th on the team with 39 total tackles. He also ranked third on the team for sacks with 5.5 on the season.
He is is the fifth Cougar to sign a UDFA contract behind wide receiver Dom Williams who signed with San Diego, Ivan McLennan with Atlanta, Destiny Vaeao with Philadelphia and Kache Palacio with Los Angeles. The five join offensive guard Joe Dahl, who was fortunate enough to hear the Detroit Lions call his name in the fifth round of the draft.