The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have scheduled a visit with Oregon running back LaGarrette Blount. No, the Bucs aren't in need of a player that can pack a good punch, which cost Blount most of his 2009 season and might be what he's best known for and what he most regrets to date.

Tampa Bay is intrigued by Blount's 240-pound frame and 4.6 speed, which helped him rush for 1,002 yards (7.3 avg.) and 17 touchdwons in 2008. While the Bucs need more speed in their offensive backfield, Blount's bruising running style has the Bucs interested in possibly drafting him in April.

“I’m not really worried about getting drafted because I know for a fact that I’ll get a shot on somebody’s team, even as a free agent,” Blound said.

Draft analysts abound predict Blount will be selected in the middle rounds. He said he’s heard he could go even higher. Blount, from Perry, Fla., has visits planned with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“It’s lovely just having teams interested in me,” he said.

Don’t let his humility fool you. Blount believes he will be a steal for whichever team selects him.

“To be 100 percent honest, I feel like I’m the best running back in this draft,” he said.

Source: OregoneLive.com - Aaron Fentress

PewterReport.com's Take: Blount's character has been called into question quite a bit since the infamous punch, but most teams are looking past it at this point since it appears to have been an isolated incident. Blount has helped himself quite a bit with a strong offseason (Senior Bowl and combine) and more mature attitude. Tampa Bay needs to add more speed to its stable of running backs, but Blount is the type of physical runner that Bucs head coach Raheem Morris likes. Who doesn't? Look what Brandon Jacobs has done for the New York Giants. It will be interesting to see if the Bucs actually pull the trigger and draft Blount after he visits One Buccaneer Place. One thing we do know is the Bucs likely will take a running back fairly high in the 2010 NFL Draft.

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