NASHVILLE, Tenn. –Old Dominion University football wide receiver was drafted in the sixth round, No. 184 overall by the Detroit Lions on Saturday.
Fulgham becomes the second Monarch to be taken in the NFL Draft, joining Oshane Ximines who was taken in the third round on Friday.
“We are so very proud of Travis. He deserves the opportunity to play in the NFL through hard work and dedication,” ODU Head Coach Bobby Wilder said. “He improved every year, has a tremendous work ethic, and is a great teammate. The Lions will be pleased with the overall value he brings to the organization.”
Fulgham, a former walk-on, led Conference USA this season with 1,083 receiving yards and a 17.2 yards per catch. He finished the season with an FBS best nine-straight games with a touchdown. He finished the year with a career-best 63 catches, and tied his single-game high twice, with 10 catches apiece against Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee. He registered a career-best 215-yards in the game against Middle Tennessee.
A native of Ashburn, Virginia, Fulgham concluded his ODU career with 128 receptions, good for seventh in the ODU record books and recorded 2,044 yards, sixth most in school history and 18 touchdowns.
Fulgham earned second-team All-Conference USA accolades this year and earned first-team all-league honors by Pro Football Focus and was named first-team VaSID All-State.
LIONS WR TRAVIS FULGHAM NFL DRAFT CONFERENCE CALL
On how he views himself as wide receiver: “I feel like a receiver who can definitely make some big plays for the team. I definitely (am) a polished route runner – can run any route on the route tree. It’s like I can definitely move the chains for any football team.”
On how it feels to be the first offensive player in Old Dominion history to be drafted: “It’s a great feeling. We definitely have some great players coming out of Old Dominion (and) to be the first offensive player is just a dream come true.”
On if he received any scholarship offers: “No, no scholarship offers – just a walk-on opportunity at Old Dominion.”
On what goes into being a good deep threat: “It’s all about attacking levels, making sure you’re attacking that cornerback, just pressing on his toes and using my speed and my long legs.”
On the celebration noise in the background: “I’m not sure. I’m outside right now, so they’re probably screaming about something on the TV.”
On the coolest place he has traveled to: “I would say Thailand. It’s definitely a beautiful country, definitely a lot of different sights to see, probably one of my favorite vacations I ever took. I went to the island of Phuket, that’s probably some place everybody should go. It’s a nice vacation spot.”
On if he could list the places he lived growing up: “Jordan, India, South Africa, Egypt. I would also say China is one of the most interesting spots, you know, seeing the Great Wall of China and Tiananmen Square. It’s interesting being out there.”
On what he knew about football growing up abroad: “Well I knew about football, but I never got a chance to play until I got back to the States. I didn’t start playing until I (got) here. I actually grew up a Patriots fan, so during the winter I would be back here visiting my dad, and I would get a chance to watch the Patriots play on ESPN. It was the only chance I got to watch football.”
On his parents being foreign service officers: “Yes. They both worked for USAID (United States Agency for International Development). It helps developing countries all over the world.”
On if he has spoken to Old Dominion teammate DE Oshane Ximines, who was also drafted: “Yes sir. I got a chance to speak to him for a little bit. He was kind of speechless the moment he got drafted. We’re very excited for the program.”
On if he has spoken to any of his old coaches since being drafted: “Not yet, this is the second call I’ve made since I’ve got drafted.”
On when he understood being drafted was a possibility for him: “Playing in the NFL was always my dream as soon as I started playing. But I started realizing it was a possibility after this year, after having a pretty good senior season and getting invited to the Senior Bowl and the Combine.”
On why his family relocated permanently to the United States: “We just felt like it was the best time to get back to the States, so I could focus on sports and academics.”
On if his parents are still working overseas: “My mom goes abroad every now and then, but they’re both retired. My dad’s consulting and my mom, she’ll work part time for USAID still.”
On his impressions of Lions QB Matthew Stafford: “I definitely know Matthew Stafford is definitely a great quarterback who can definitely put up some numbers. And definitely a good, young corps of receivers down there in Detroit and I’m excited to join them.”
On Lions wide receivers Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr.: “Yes, sir. They’re definitely great receivers, and I’ll be happy to learn from them.”
On what attracted him to start playing football his junior year of high school: “Well, the first time I ever got the opportunity to play – and I’m a sports junky. So, when I had the chance to go out there and try a different sport, I’m going to take that opportunity. It ended up working out pretty well.”
On what he thinks the best sport is that he played other than football: “I would say basketball or soccer.”
On why he thinks basketball or soccer were his best sports outside of football: “Well, basketball and soccer, that’s the two primary sports that were in every country that I lived in. That’s just what I grew up playing. I was a state champion in soccer my senior year in high school.”
On if there is any wide receiver he grew up trying to emulate his game after: “Yes, sir. Growing up it was Randy Moss. But over the past few years, Larry Fitzgerald, ‘Megatron’ (Calvin Johnson Jr.) of course, Detroit Lion, you know. I definitely watched a lot of his film throughout my career and I’ve tried to pick out little things from numerous amounts of receivers.”