William Gholston’s uncertainty ends with 11th season with Bucs
TAMPA ― Veteran defensive lineman William Gholston said it felt odd not working out at the Bucs’ training facility this past offseason as he had his entire career.
He spent more time being a dad and stayed in great shape but never lost hope the team might re-sign him.
One the eve of training camp Tuesday, Gholston signed a one-year contract worth $2.8 million to return to the Bucs for an 11th season.
“I knew I had to just stay in shape, stay the course,” Gholston said. “I’ve been here. I know the system. It’s just a matter of how the pieces fell.”
Gholston said it was different not training during the offseason at AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, but he just focused on his family and fitness.
“I just try to control what I can control,” he said. “Work out, wake up, being a dad and do all the things I didn’t usually do that time of year and stay in the best shape I could.”
Gholston said after arriving to the team’s training facility, he was surprised at some of the physical changes some players had made in the offseason.
“I was walking through the hall and some of them guys were jacked up walking through the hall,” Gholston said. “They’re big and stout. I was like, ‘Damn!’ Pat O’Connor. He looks like the Hulk now. It’s crazy. He wasn’t that big when I left, but that dude is huge now.”
Gholston, who will turn 32 next week, is the second longest-tenured player on the team, behind only linebacker Lavonte David. David is entering his 12th season with the Bucs.
Last season Gholston played 43% of the defensive snaps, making 49 tackles. This year, his job could be to mentor second-year defensive end Logan Hall.
“His skill is extremely high,” Gholston said. ”And as you put that weight on and (if he) goes in there with the tenaciousness he has stopping the run and rushing the passer? Like I said last year, I thought he was going to be the dark horse of the team and lead the team, the defense, with some crazy stats. So, I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen this year. It’s only a matter of time.”
Kancey finds mentor
Rookie defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, the Bucs’ first-round pick from Pittsburgh, has received a lot of help from teammates since joining the team in April.
But he said he probably learned the most about being a pro from defensive tackle Deadrin Senat, a former USF star.
“He’s a guy that’s helping me out a lot about how to be a pro,” Kancey said. “He’ll help me out with the playbook as well. He’s always been there since Day 1. Even at the hotel, we’ll do walk-throughs to where we want to polish our games and come in as sharp as possible.”
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Twitter and Facebook.
