RB Stewart scheduled for visit

The Bucs are getting down to business in their preparations for the draft, and that means there will be a parade of prospects coming through town for private meetings with the team.

One of them, it turns out, will be Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart, a projected first-round pick who conceivably could be available when the Bucs draft 20th.

Stewart is a candidate to be selected earlier, but the recent news that he underwent toe surgery that will take a couple of months to heal could result in a drop for the big 233-pound back.

Last season, Stewart set single-season school records in rushing yards (1,722) and all-purpose yards (2,481). He led the Pac-10 in both and scored 13 total touchdowns.

Somehow, I still see the Bucs as more likely to select a receiver in the first round. Running back seems a more stable position with Earnest Graham, Warrick Dunn and Michael Bennett all in the fold. But running back is certainly a position that you can expect to be addressed early in the draft, perhaps even in the first round.