Two Bucs rookies from 2023 are healthy and ready to do damage in 2024

Could this be the best Interior D Lineman the Bucs had in a long time?

Calijah Kancey made some nice impressions after finally getting healthy last season. Because of injury, Kancey missed camp and the preseason in 2023. Drafted out of Pittsburgh, the Bucs have very high expectations for the young man, who runs a 4.73 40-yard dash. By comparison, Aaron Donald ran a 4.68. Kancey, recovered in time to start Game 5 last season and started every game. In November of last season, Kancey won the Defensive Lineman of the Month award. Believe it or not, the only interior D. lineman to ever win the award with the Bucs, (accomplished as a rookie to boot) In November, Kancey had 10 tackles (7 for a loss), four quarterback hits, two sacks, and even one pass defensed in those four games. Overall, in 2023, Kancey finished with 4 sacks, 26 combined tackles (19 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, and 1 pass defensed. Not bad for a season that he couldn’t adequately prepare for due to injury. This season Kancey has gotten in all the OTAs, camp, and the preseason. It certainly isn’t out of reach that Kancey could finish as a top 5-10 NFL Interior Defensive Lineman in 2024. I’m looking at it if he stays healthy. Calijah Kancey is one of the reasons that the Bucs are again being downplayed but will rise to the call and better the predictions of certain doom in 2024. It’s going to be an exciting season. Dare I say even better than 2023? So, strap in folks. It’s going to be quite the ride.

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CUP OF RAY

People wrote off Sean Tucker after last season, but not so fast!

UDFA Sean Tucker, out of Syracuse in 2023, missed most of the off-season last year because of the revelation of a heart defect during the combine. Going into the regular season, his rookie season, he was named the RB2 behind Rachaad White. Tucker didn’t get the job done early on and found himself nailed to the pine the rest of the season. It’s not easy for a rookie running back to pick up all the blocking schemes, especially when Tucker didn’t participate in most of the offseason’s work. Tucker is for real; his speed (4.33) is world-class, as fast as the Dolphins’ De’Von Achane, the Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs, and his teammate, wide receiver Trey Palmer. It has been rumored that Tucker timed out at a 4.2 in high school, in the 40. A fact, or just ridiculousness, both times are crazy fast. Not only is the Owings Mills, Maryland native fast, but he can put his head down and hit you with power as well. So far in preseason this year, he has been the lead man and has had flashes of brilliance, possibly setting himself up as the 2nd or 3rd back in the rotation. Tucker knows that Jason Licht and Todd Bowles are watching and expecting more from the speedster this season. Tucker must earn his money in 2024 to stay on this Bucs’ team. I expect to see him do just that and possibly become the team’s RB1 before all is said and done. This is no knock on R. White, who has stepped up his play. Tucker has more skills and a higher top-end than White, in my opinion. White is more suited for 3rd down duties from what I’ve seen of him. I’m thankful for all of our running back room — a bunch that may finally end the team’s basement-dwelling run stats.

So there you go, two second-year players that this year had a full off-season of work going into the NFL Season — two players who could be instrumental in the Bucs 2024 success story. One is more of a ringer than the other, but both possess top-flight skills to accomplish their NFL dreams. Let the season begin, go Bucs!!