A former tight end, the 6-4, 301-pound Lucier (pronounced loo-sear) manned the center position as a junior and then shifted to right guard for his senior campaign. The Giants expect him to play center.

“I’m real excited to be here,” he said. “I didn’t necessarily think New York would take a center. I’m really looking forward to being in this area and being a part of the team.”

Lucier was headed for a much higher draft position until he injured himself in his final collegiate contest.

“The expectations were a lot higher, but I suffered an injury in the bowl game, which kept me out of the combine and all-star games,” he said. “The Giants kind of took a chance on me and I want to prove to them that it was a good chance to take.”

“He’s a center with good size,” OL Coach Jim McNally said. “We were kind of surprised he was still there in the seventh round. He’s strong and has good feet.”

A New Hampshire native, Lucier comes to New York highly decorated. He was named Colorado’s most outstanding offensive lineman and also the Buffaloes’ player who best displayed team spirit, dedication and enthusiasm. He was on the national watch list for the nation’s top center (Rimington Award) before the season, but was moved to right guard for his final campaign.

He also graded a team high 85.5 percent for blocking efficiency.

“I’m a pretty versatile guy,” he said. “I like to use my quickness to get into my guy and get into my block. I’m not the strongest guy anyone has ever played against, but I think I use my hands pretty well.”

Head Coach Jim Fassel credited Lucier with having “exceptional body balance” and also being “very smart.”

Those smarts are why Lucier believes he’ll be fine from the get-go.

“I’m a pretty intelligent guy so I should be able to pick up the system,” he said.

Then, he said, he’ll worry about where he fits in. “Right now I’m more focused on making the team than being a starter, but everyone plays the game to be the guy,” he said. “Ultimately that will be my goal if I show them I can make the team.”

Where he fits in
Like David Diehl selected before him, a roster spot is certainly a legitimate option for Lucier. If he impresses and picks things up quickly, he could easily slide in and become New York’s back-up center. Right now Omar Smith hardly has a tight grip on that position.

Reese’s Read
“Lucier is another big guy who gives us flexibility. He can play center or guard. He’s smart, big and strong. He gives us some movement as far as the guys we have. He can come in and play at those spots. We had him rated pretty high. We like him to compete for a spot too.” – Director of Player Personnel Jerry Reese