The total rundown on new Bucs DT Calijah Kancey
While many thought the team would go offensive tackle, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to take a defensive tackle with their first pick in the draft.
Here is the complete rundown on Tampa Bay’s first-round selection in Pitt DT Calijah Kancey:
Height: 6’0
Weight: 281 lbs
Age: 22
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Scouting Report (Dane Brugler, The Athletic): “A three-year starter at Pittsburgh, Kancey was a 3-technique tackle in head coach Pat Narduzzi’s 4-3 base scheme, lining up everywhere from nose to the edge. After putting his name on the NFL radar in 2021, he led all FBS defensive tackles in tackles for loss (14.5) in 2022 and became the school’s first unanimous All- American since Aaron Donald. With his initial quickness and ability to maneuver his hips in the hole, Kancey wins at the snap to slant, stunt and cross the face of blockers and affect the backfield rhythm (46.8 percent of his tackles in 2022 came in enemy territory). He uses his balance and natural leverage to get underneath the pads of blockers, but can be displaced in the run game and will struggle to power through contact. Kancey’s undersized frame and average strength will be more pronounced versus NFL blockers, especially in the run game, but his get off, agility and quick hands allow him to leverage gaps and disrupt the backfield. Although not quite on Donald’s level as a pro prospect, the parallels are encouraging and he projects as a starting NFL 3-technique.”
What GM Jason Licht said: “He wants to win, and he’s an ultimate competitor.”
RAS card
Player highlights
