Former Raider Gets His Shot At the Pros

Thomas Claiborne likes to remind his teammates from big-time high school football programs in Texas and New Jersey that Massachusetts has football too, and even a kid who played for the Wellesley Raiders has a shot at the pros.

Claiborne is getting that shot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he’s making the most of it.

“It’s crazy to think about, that coming out of I’m here,” he said with a laugh after yesterday’s practice.

After playing offensive guard at Boston College, the 2005 Wellesley High School graduate has made it through his first pro training camp and two preseason games,  lining up last week against the New England Patriots.

“That was huge for me, I grew up watching that team. That’s my hometown team,” he said.

The transition from Division 1 college football to the pros has been everything Claiborne expected it to be, “and more.”

“It’s taking things to a whole different level everyday,” he said. “It’s really kicking it up one more notch, it’s very fast paced.”

He graduated from Boston College last January and has spent the time since then working out, keeping in shape and doing everything he can to get ready for his shot at the pros.

He spent part of that time working at the HIT Center in Huntington, West Virginia, and also at on Washington Street in Wellesley.

At Train Boston Claiborne worked with trainer Tim Brewster and Ron Brace of the New England Patriots, a friend and former Boston College Eagles teammate.

“I was blessed to have that one-on-one attention with Ron,” Claiborne said.

With Claiborne playing offensive guard, and Brace a defensive tackle, the two were able to spend hours working one on one against each other, and Claiborne said the time was invaluable.

He said he came away from his work with Brewster and Brace with better hand positioning and footwork.

He also said the work prepared him to start training camp once the lockout ended.

“When I got here they wanted to know, 'Are you in shape? Did you take the offseason seriously?'” he said.

While in Wellesley he also had a chance to stop by his alma mater, where he saw some of his old teachers and coaches.

He wanted to give a “special shout out to Ms. (Mary Anne) McDonald” who he said has been there for him “since Day 1.”

“She’s really one of the reasons I’m here,” he said.

He said he’s also spoken with football coach Bill Tracey, track coach and now interim Principal Jamie Chisum and Athletic Director John Brown.

And while he hasn’t forgotten his friends in Wellesley, they surely haven’t forgotten him.

“He’s a big guy with a big personality who’s a lot of fun to be around,” said Chisum, who coached Claiborne as a discus and shot put state finalist. Chisum told a story about the 6-foot, 3-inch, 330-plus pound football player hurling himself over a high jump bar on a lark after practice one afternoon.

“He came into the gym and we had the high bar set-up, I think it was at 5-feet,” he said. “With no practice, no technique, no coaching, just a lot of explosion, he got over that bar with no problem.”

Chisum also remembers Claiborne could run a 30-second 200 meter dash, which may be no great feat for a track athlete, but quite something for someone the size of an NFL guard.

“It was alarming to see a fella that big moving around the track that fast,” Chisum remembered.

“He was a very impressive athlete,” Chisum said. “I have my fingers crossed for him.”

Over the next couple weeks NFL rosters must be cut down to the 53 players allowed for the regular season. Ten cuts will come this weekend, and another round the following week before Claiborne will know whether all his hard work has paid off.

“The next two weeks are definitely huge, they’re crucial,” he said.

He’s got two more preseason games to prove to coaches not only that he’s athletic, but that he can be trusted, that he takes coaching directions and puts them to practice, and that he’s a player who teammates can count on to be in the right place at the right time.

“You’re putting everything you have out there, giving everything you have so if you do get cut, someone else may see the tape and say, “I see something to give this kid a shot,’” Claiborne said.