Marcus Gilbert

Marcus Christopher Gilbert (born February 15, 1988) is a former American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft and played for the Steelers for eight seasons. Gilbert was also a member of the Arizona Cardinals for two seasons, although he never played a game for the team. Early years Gilbert was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, and was a standout lineman for the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders high school football team. He was also a member of the Raiders basketball team and threw the shot put and discus for the Raiders track and field team. Gilbert's father Jeff was a Secret Service agent who protected Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign. College career Gilbert attended the University of Florida, where he played on coach Urban Meyer's Florida Gators football team from 2006 to 2010. As a true freshman in 2006, he was redshirted. He made his first career start for the Florida Gators in a game against Florida Atlantic in 2007 at right guard in place of the injured Maurkice Pouncey. During the Gators 2008 BCS National Championship season, Gilbert started two games at left guard against Hawaii and Miami. He started in all 14 games for the Gators at right tackle in 2009, and earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance against Kentucky on September 26. In 2010, Gilbert started in all 13 games, playing both tackle positions. During his college career, he appeared in fifty-two games and started thirty of them. Professional career Entering the 2011 NFL Draft, Gilbert was projected to be a third to fourth round pick. He was ranked as the ninth best offensive tackle in the draft and was invited to the NFL Combine. Gilbert attended the scouting combine and performed nearly half the drills before injuring a hamstring. He participated at Florida State's Pro Day and nearly finished the entire workout before reinjuring his hamstring during a 40-yard dash.