Eugene Wilson Smashed by Mack Truck

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed rookie OL James Lee off waivers Sunday night, it meant they had to make room for him on their 53-man roster.

The first place they looked to trim was with the group of nine defensive backs, where the debate was between veteran Eugene Wilson, with the experience of two Super Bowl titles in New England, and rookie Elbert Mack, an undrafted free agent from Troy.

Goodbye Wilson. Hello Mack.

“Against all odds,” Mack said after practice Monday. “I’m amped up.”

Mack led NCAA Div. I-A with eight interceptions in 2007, including one returned for a touchdown. He played opposite Leodis McKelvin, whom the Buffalo Bills selected in the first round (11th overall) in April.

“The more you watched Troy, the more you said, ‘Who’s this other guy?’ ” Coach Jon Gruden said. “And he had a great camp for us.”

Darn good exhibition season, too. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Mack had some big hits and an interception during the four games. He’ll figure prominently on special teams, starting with Sunday’s season opener at New Orleans.

Wilson, the sixth-year pro, signed as a free agent in March. He didn’t do much to distinguish himself in the preseason and got caught up in a numbers crunch at a position that featured starters Ronde Barber and Phillip Buchanon, plus rookie first-round draft pick Aqib Talib.