Greg Dulcich Explained

Greg Dulcich
Current Team:Denver Broncos
Number:80
Position:Tight end
Birth Date:26 March 2000
Birth Place:Glendale, California, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:245
College:UCLA (2018–2021)
Draftyear:2022
Draftround:3
Draftpick:80
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
  • First-team All-Pac-12 (2021)
  • Second-team All-Pac-12 (2020)
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:36
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:436
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue3:2
Pfr:DulcGr00

Gregory Paul Dulcich (born March 26, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and was twice an all-conference selection in the Pac-12, including first-team honors in 2021. He was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Early years

Dulcich was born on March 26, 2000, and grew up in Glendale, California.[1] He attended Saint Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge.[2] As a junior, he had 30 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns. In his senior year, the Golden Knights reached the 2017 CIF Southern Section Division III championship, losing 44–42 to Rancho Verde High School on a last-second field goal.[1] During the season, Dulcich caught 50 passes for 1,168 yards and 12 touchdowns, and ran for another three touchdowns. He also made 21 tackles on defense.

Dulcich was ranked as a three-star recruit by ESPN and listed as the No. 78 recruit in California. He was initially recruited by Derek Sage, who was the receivers coach for Washington State. However, Sage moved to UCLA, as did Dulcich.[3]

College career

A walk-on at the University of California, Los Angeles,[2] Dulcich played three games as a freshman. He appeared in eleven games in 2019, playing on special teams and as a receiver.[3] His first touchdown with the Bruins was against San Diego State on September 7, 2019, when he had three receptions for 37 yards in a home loss at the Rose Bowl,[1] [4] about 3miles from his high school.[2] [4]

In 2020, Dulcich was informed by UCLA on his 20th birthday that he was put on scholarship. He had a breakout year that season, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, finishing with 26 receptions for 517 yards and five touchdowns.[3] He led the team in both receiving yards and touchdowns, while finishing second in catches to Kyle Philips (38).[5] Dulcich's averages of 19.88 yards per catch and 73.9 receiving yards per game both ranked second in the country among tight ends.[2] [6] He was targeted 18 times on vertical pass routes, catching nine for 321 yards and four touchdowns.[7] Ranked sixth in the Pac-12 in receiving yards per game,[5] he was named second-team All-Pac-12.[6]

In 2021, Dulcich was named to the preseason watch list for the Mackey Award, awarded to the best tight end in the nation.[2] He had three catches for 117 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, in a win over No. 16 LSU.[8] He logged a career-high nine catches for 136 yards in a loss to Arizona State,[9] his third career game with 100 yards or more.[10] He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors and finished fifth in the conference in receiving yards per game with 60.4.[11] Dulcich averaged 17.3 yards per catch, which ranked second among tight ends in the nation,[12] and his 725 receiving yards ranked second on the team to Philips (739). He declared for the NFL Draft after the season.[13]

Statistics

UCLA Bruins
SeasonGPReceiving
Rec Yds TD
20188 1 6 0
201911 8 105 1
20207 26 517 5
202111 42 725 5
Career 37 77 1,353 11

Professional career

Dulcich was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft with the 80th overall pick.[14] He was the third tight end chosen in the draft.[12] Bothered by a hamstring injury during most of training camp, he was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2022.[15] [16] Dulcich was activated for a Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football,[17] and caught a 39-yard touchdown from Russell Wilson in his NFL debut.[18] He finished his rookie season with 33 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns in ten games, of which he started six.[19]

On September 16, 2023, Dulcich was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1.[20] He was activated on October 12, but placed back on injured reserve nine days later with a hamstring injury.[21]

Personal life

Dulcich is of Croatian descent through all four of his grandparents.[22]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Rich . Charles . April 2, 2020 . St. Francis High's Dulcich lands football scholarship at UCLA . September 30, 2021 . Glendale News-Press.
  2. News: Nguyen . Thuc Nhi . September 5, 2021 . Greg Dulcich showcasing his star power for resurgent UCLA . September 30, 2021 . Los Angeles Times.
  3. News: Lehman . Mitch . January 16, 2021 . Dulcich Catching On at UCLA . September 30, 2021 . Outlook Newspapers.
  4. News: Nguyen . Thuc Nhi . September 9, 2019 . Walk-on Greg Dulcich is unexpected receiving leader for UCLA tight ends . September 30, 2021 . Los Angeles Daily News.
  5. News: Williams . James H. . May 10, 2021 . UCLA tight end Greg Dulcich could garner attention from many in 2021 . September 30, 2021 . Long Beach Press-Telegram.
  6. News: Greg Dulcich . September 30, 2021 . UCLABruins.com.
  7. News: Dix . Brianna . June 15, 2021 . Breaking down the top five returning tight ends in CFB entering 2021 . September 30, 2021 . USA Today.
  8. News: Bolch . Ben . September 4, 2021 . UCLA gives coach Chip Kelly a signature win with upset of No. 16 LSU . September 9, 2021 . Los Angeles Times.
  9. News: Bolch . Ben . October 2, 2021 . UCLA gambles and loses big to Arizona State, halting Bruins' Pac-12 resurgence . October 3, 2021 . Los Angeles Times.
  10. News: Williams . James H. . October 2, 2021 . UCLA football stumbles against Pac-12 South rival Arizona State . October 3, 2021 . Los Angeles Daily News.
  11. News: Williams . James H. . December 7, 2021 . Kyle Philips leads UCLA's nine All-Pac-12 football selections . December 21, 2021 . Los Angeles Daily News.
  12. News: He . Eric . April 29, 2022 . UCLA TE Greg Dulcich (Broncos), OL Sean Rhyan (Packers) drafted in 3rd round . May 5, 2022 . Los Angeles Daily News.
  13. News: Williams . James H. . January 5, 2022 . UCLA TE Greg Dulcich declares for NFL draft . January 9, 2022 . Los Angeles Daily News.
  14. Web site: DiLalla . Aric . April 29, 2022 . Broncos select TE Greg Dulcich with 80th-overall pick . February 18, 2023 . DenverBroncos.com.
  15. Web site: Heath . Jon . October 15, 2022 . Help on the way? Broncos' offense could use a boost from Greg Dulcich . October 18, 2022 . USA Today.
  16. Web site: DiLalla . Aric . August 31, 2022 . Broncos sign NT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson . February 18, 2023 . DenverBroncos.com.
  17. Web site: DiLalla . Aric . October 17, 2022 . Broncos activate S Justin Simmons, TE Greg Dulcich, CB Michael Ojemudia from IR . February 18, 2023 . DenverBroncos.com.
  18. Web site: Nguyen . Joe . October 17, 2022 . WATCH: Broncos rookie tight end Greg Dulcich's first NFL touchdown . October 18, 2022 . Denver Post.
  19. Web site: Greg Dulcich 2022 Game Log . February 18, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  20. Web site: DiLalla, Aric . September 16, 2023 . Broncos place TE Greg Dulcich on IR, elevate RB Dwayne Washington for Week 2 . DenverBroncos.com.
  21. Web site: DiLalla, Aric . October 21, 2023 . Broncos activate OLB Baron Browning from Physically Unable to Perform list, place TE Greg Dulcich on IR . DenverBroncos.com.
  22. Web site: October 18, 2022 . VIDEO: Croatian-American Greg Dulcich scores touchdown on NFL debut . February 18, 2023 . Croatia Week . en.