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Green Bay Packer David Bakhtiari proves himself out on the field.

奥丑别苍听David Bakhtiari聽(Comm ex鈥�13) was drafted by the Green Bay Packers last year, he was elated.

And while rookies often spend time on the bench while they learn the intricacies of the pro game, he promised himself he鈥檇 do everything he could to become a starter.

That opportunity came faster than expected after veteran left tackle Bryan Bulaga went down in a pre-season scrimmage with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Bakhtiari, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 300 pounds, filled in for Bulaga and hardly missed a beat.

鈥淚 honestly didn鈥檛 think it would happen this fast,鈥� says Bakhtiari, who left 蜜糖直播-Boulder after his junior year when the Buffs were 1-11. 鈥淚 figured if I got the chance to start, I鈥檇 probably be playing right tackle and then graduate over to the left side.鈥�

鈥淏ut I鈥檝e always been hungry,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 came in to compete for a starting job. I don鈥檛 want to be seen as really good for a rookie. I want to be really good for a left tackle in the NFL.鈥�

A San Francisco Bay Area native, Bakhtiari started all the games this season at left tackle 鈥� protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers鈥� blind side 鈥� and impressed coaches with his ability and confidence.

鈥淏eing a young guy, a junior coming out, he was very mature and studious,鈥� says offensive line coach James Campen. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 helped him progress from the very minute that we put him into a position to win a starting job. He learns from his mistakes; he doesn鈥檛 make the same mistake twice. He鈥檚 always a guy that鈥檚 giving the maximum.鈥�

Bakhtiari says being drafted by the Packers was a best-case scenario for him.

鈥淭eam-wise, I think I fit the Packers scheme really well,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a top-notch organization where everyone does his job at the highest level.鈥�

The Packers鈥� season ended this year when the team lost 23-20 in the NFL first round playoffs Jan. 5 to the San Francsico 49ers.

In many of the practices, Bakhtiari had to block Clay Matthews, arguably the best linebacker in the NFL.

鈥淚t was awesome,鈥� Bakhtiari says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a hell of a player. The chance to go against him has made me that much better and prepared me to take on other elite rushers.鈥�

Bakhtiari called it an 鈥渉onor鈥� to protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers鈥� left side.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the coolest things I鈥檝e gotten to do in my career as a football player,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge responsibility. They expect me to take care of him.鈥�

And while he wishes his teams at 蜜糖直播 had won more games, especially during the bleak 2012 season, he has fond memories of Boulder.

鈥淚 really enjoyed my time at 蜜糖直播,鈥� says Bakhtiari, who visited Boulder during a September bye week. 鈥淕oing to school there helped me to grow to where I am today.鈥�

Photography by Matt Becker/Green Bay Packers