The best photos from the Buccaneers' 2016 rookie mini-camp.
CB Vernon Hargreaves
LB Luke Rhodes
LB Zach Shaw
CB Vernon Hargreaves
HC Dirk Koetter
K Roberto Aguayo
DB Ryan Smith
DC Mike Smith
HC Dirk Koetter
TE Kivon Cartwright
Special Teams Coach Nate Kaczor
CB Vernon Hargreaves
LB Devante Bond
WR Bernard Reedy
CB Vernon Hargreaves
CB Marqus Baker
CB Vernon Hargreaves
LB Devante Bond
HC Dirk Koetter
DE Darryl Paulo
DE Noah Spence
HC Dirk Koetter and OL Coach George Warhop
RB Russell Hansbrough
DE Noah Spence
CB Vernon Hargreaves
LB Devante Bond
RB Peyton Barber
TE Dan Vitale
S Elijah Shumate
CB Vernon Hargreaves
CB Vernon Hargreaves
WR Andre Davis
CB Vernon Hargreaves
CB Marqus Baker
HC Dirk Koetter
After the 2016 NFL Draft concluded, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed nearly 20 more rookies who had slipped through the seven rounds. The team then attracted another 22 young prospects, most of them additional undrafted free agents, to participate in last weekend's mini-camp on a tryout basis. In a very real way, those two groups of players were in competition with each other from Friday through Sunday.
"These guys, they know what's at stake," said Head Coach Dirk Koetter on Friday. "You've got 51 guys for probably 19 spots on the 90-man roster, so there is a lot at stake. These guys are hungry and they show it."
The Buccaneers held their first rookie mini-camp practice at One Buc Place on Friday.
CB Vernon Hargreaves
WR Dez Stewart
WR Dez Stewart
CB Marqus Baker
HC Dirk Koetter
CB Marqus Baker
DB Ryan Smith and CB Vernon Hargreaves
RB Peyton Barber
TE Kivon Cartwright
TE Danny Vitale
LB Micah Awe
S Elijah Shumate
CB Vernon Hargreaves
CB Vernon Hargreaves
CB Marqus Barker
WR Andre Davis
RB Peyton Barber
RB Russell Hansbrough
DE Noah Spence
DE Noah Spence
OT Caleb Benenoch
LB Devante Bond
CB Vernon Hargreaves
Special Teams Coach Nate Kaczor
HC Dirk Koetter and OL Coach George Warhop
K Roberto Aguayo
K Roberto Aguayo
And, indeed, three competitive practices over the weekend led to a handful of roster moves on Monday. Three of those tryout players – Texas Tech linebacker Micah Awe, Kansas State defensive tackle Travis Britz and Louisville tackle Kelby Johnson – have earned a spot on the 90-man roster. To make room, the Buccaneers released three of those original undrafted free agents: West Chester tight end Tim Brown, Oregon linebacker Tyson Coleman and Western Kentucky defensive tackle Jontavius Morris.
In addition, the Buccaneers have re-signed wide receiver Andre Davis, a former standout at the University of South Florida and nearby Jefferson High School. There was an open spot on the roster for Davis, who also participated in the weekend camp, because one of the original undrafted free agents, Kutztown wide receiver Anthony Kelly, did not officially sign or take part in the camp.
Photos from day 2 of Rookie Mini-Camp.
HC Dirk Koetter
DT Pio Vatuvei
DE Darryl Paulo
DE Noah Spence
DT Travis Britz
DT Pio Vatuvei
T Kelby Johnson
DE Noah Spence
TE Tevin Westbrook
QB Phillip Ely
QB Steven Bench
TE Danny Vitale
TE Alan Cross
WR Andre Davis
WR Bernard Reedy
WR Roman Namdar
OC/WR Coach Todd Monken
WR Andre Davis
WR Mike Thomas
WR Roman Namdar
Special Teams Coordinator Nate Kaczor and LB Micah Awe
DE Noah Spence
LB Tyson Coleman
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
DE Martavius Foster
LB Devante Bond
RB Peyton Barber
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
LB Mike Kozlakowski
S Isaiah Johnson
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
CB Marqus Baker
LB Devante Bond
HC Dirk Koetter
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
CB Stanley Absanon
Defensive Quality Control Coach Dave Borgonzi
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
HC Dirk Koetter
K Roberto Aguayo
DC Mike Smith & Secondary Coach Jon Hoke
K Roberto Aguayo
RB Russell Hansbrough
HC Dirk Koetter
A team captain as a senior at Texas Tech, Awe played in 51 games over four seasons with the Red Raiders, recording 266 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and six passes defensed. The 6-0, 221-pound linebacker started every game last fall and ranked 13th in the nation in solo tackles per game.
Britz (6-4, 293) started 36 of the 47 games in which he played over four seasons at Kansas State and was also a team captain as a senior. A second-team All-Big 12 pick after a 2015 campaign in which he amassed 41 tackles, four sacks and 11 tackles for loss, Britz also tied a school record with five career blocked kicks.
The 6-7, 301-pound Johnson played two seasons at Virginia before finishing up at Louisville in 2014 and 2015. He was primarily a reserve for the Cardinals, starting one game at tackle last fall.
