Each week during the offseason, Senior Writer/Editor Scott Smith will dip into the inbox to answer questions from Buccaneer fans. This week, the fans start discussions on a blockbuster trade concept, Mike Evans' upcoming second NFL season and the history of Ivy Leaguers on the Bucs' all-time roster .*
Fans can submit questions for upcoming mailbags via Twitter to @ScottSBucs (#BucsMailbag), through a message on the Buccaneers Official Facebook Page or via email at *tbbsocial@buccaneers.nfl.com*. The One Buc Mailbag runs every Thursday and is not necessarily meant to reflect the opinions of the team's management or coaching staff.*1. Hey Scott-If the rumors are true that the Saints are trying to unload Drew Brees, I would totally, without a second thought, send our number one pick to New Orleans. Wouldn't you?Phil Schwadron, via email to tbbsocial@buccaneers.nfl.com
I've mention that these are my opinions, right? You read that little disclaimer in italics above? What we have here is Phil asking for my opinion on a hypothetical situation he has proposed. What we do not have here, in any form, is the Buccaneers organization saying that it would or would not like to trade for Drew Brees. That would be tampering and we can't have that.
Okay, so we're all clear on that? Great. Then here's my answer:
OF COURSE I would have a second thought before doing a deal like that. Phil, you're saying that you wouldn't even take a few minutes to consider all the factors? If you're supposed to be the GM here, that seems a little delinquent to me. You're talking about adding a player with a $20 million salary (roughly) to your payroll. You've got to at least mull that over for a bit.
Behind the scenes photos from Buccaneers vs. Saints at Raymond James Stadium.
And, honestly Phil, I don't make that deal after I've mulled it over. First, let's make one thing abundantly clear: Drew Brees has been and still is a marvelous quarterback. He's a Hall of Famer, and when he threw for a whopping 4,962 yards last year that was his LOWEST total in four seasons. He has a career completion percentage of 66.2% and last year his passer rating was 97.0. I thought it was funny last season when there were some rumblings that he was slowing down. I fully expect Brees to be one of the league's best quarterbacks again in 2015.
That said, Drew Brees is also a 36-year-old quarterback who, again, is due about $20 million each of the next two years. Forget the Buccaneers; I have a hard time imagining any team trading the first-overall pick in the draft – with (depending on how sold you are) one or two potential franchise quarterbacks available to be picked – for a player of that description, even if it is Drew Brees. Sure that #1 overall pick isn't necessarily going to pan out, but those are the risks you have to take sometimes as a team architect. The reward – possibly getting that crazy-elusive "franchise quarterback" in place – is so great that you have to try. You can have that, or you can have two years of control over a 36-year-old player who is going to eat up a large chunk of your salary cap.
2. Scott,What do you think Mike Evans will do in his SECOND year? This isn't a fantasy football question. Well, it's kinda a fantasy football question-I don't want to be taking another year two Michael Clayton-but I really care more for what it means for the Buccaneers. Do you think he can do even better than he did as a rookie? Would you expect him to take more catches away from V-Jack this year?Thanks. Mark Clifford, via email to tbbsocial@buccaneers.nfl.com
I think this is the first time this offseason I've been asked about Mike Evans. It's mostly been the quarterback situation, the offensive line and the secondary. The D-Line and linebackers here and there. I've been asked about Orie Lemon, Kevin Pamphile and Robert Herron, but not Mike Evans.
And I guess that's a positive thing. The starting receivers are one spot that most Buccaneer fans feel very comfortable about, and for good reason. While it is possible that a breakout rookie receiver will fail to live up to his first-season standards – and in fact, that happened with the last Tampa Bay first-round receiver, as Mark notes – there's nothing from Evans' first campaign or his current situation that would suggest that being likely in 2015.
Really, a great first season for an NFL wide receiver is usually the sign of what will be a great career. Below, you'll see a chart of the 34 receivers in league history who have topped 900 receiving yards as a rookie. I went with 900 as the cutoff because there are only 19 players who have crossed 1,000 as a rookie, and three of them happened last year, so I wanted the sample size to be a bit bigger. This chart shows not only what each of those 34 did as rookies, but what followed in their next two seasons. Check it out:
|
Player |
Year |
Team |
Rookie |
2nd Yr. |
3rd Yr. |
|
Bill Groman |
1960 |
HOU |
1473 |
1175 |
328 |
|
Anquan Boldin |
2003 |
ARI |
1377 |
623 |
1402 |
|
Randy Moss |
1998 |
MIN |
1313 |
1413 |
1437 |
|
Odell Beckham |
2014 |
NYG |
1305 |
tbd |
tbd |
|
Billy Howton |
1952 |
GB |
1231 |
463 |
768 |
|
Michael Clayton |
2004 |
TB |
1193 |
372 |
356 |
|
Terry Glenn |
1996 |
NE |
1132 |
431 |
792 |
|
Bill Brooks |
1986 |
IND |
1131 |
722 |
867 |
|
Harlon Hill |
1954 |
CHI |
1124 |
789 |
1128 |
|
Ernest Givins |
1986 |
HOU |
1062 |
933 |
976 |
|
A.J. Green |
2011 |
CIN |
1057 |
1350 |
1426 |
|
Mike Evans |
2014 |
TB |
1051 |
tbd |
tbd |
|
Keenan Allen |
2013 |
SDG |
1046 |
783 |
tbd |
|
Joey Galloway |
1995 |
SEA |
1039 |
987 |
1049 |
|
Marques Colston |
2006 |
NO |
1038 |
1202 |
760 |
|
Cris Collinsworth |
1981 |
CIN |
1009 |
700 |
1130 |
|
Kelvin Benjamin |
2014 |
CAR |
1008 |
tbd |
tbd |
|
Bob Hayes |
1965 |
DAL |
1003 |
1232 |
998 |
|
John Jefferson |
1978 |
SD |
1001 |
1090 |
1340 |
|
Dwayne Bowe |
2007 |
KC |
995 |
1022 |
589 |
|
Kevin Johnson |
1999 |
CLE |
986 |
669 |
1097 |
|
Sammy Watkins |
2014 |
BUF |
982 |
tbd |
tbd |
|
Eddie Royal |
2008 |
DEN |
980 |
345 |
627 |
|
Andre Johnson |
2003 |
HOU |
976 |
1142 |
688 |
|
Mike Williams |
2010 |
TB |
964 |
771 |
996 |
|
Julio Jones |
2011 |
ATL |
959 |
1198 |
580 |
|
Eddie Brown |
1985 |
CIN |
942 |
964 |
608 |
|
Jerry Rice |
1985 |
SF |
927 |
1570 |
1078 |
|
Gary Clark |
1985 |
WAS |
926 |
1265 |
1066 |
|
Eddie Kennison |
1996 |
STL |
924 |
404 |
234 |
|
Paul Warfield |
1964 |
CLE |
920 |
30 |
741 |
|
DeSean Jackson |
2008 |
PHI |
912 |
1156 |
1056 |
|
Jimmy Orr |
1958 |
PIT |
910 |
604 |
541 |
|
Sammy White |
1976 |
MIN |
906 |
760 |
741 |
Now, before really diving into the numbers, just take a big-picture look at those names. The majority of this list is comprised of players ranging from stars to superstars to bona fide Hall of Famers (three of them, in fact). Who wouldn't want to be in the company of Jerry Rice, Paul Warfield, Bob Hayes, Randy Moss, A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Gary Clark, Andre Johnson, John Jefferson, Cris Collinsworth, Joey Galloway, Terry Glenn…and on and on.
If you think that some of the numbers for these players second and third years throw up a minor red flag, be aware that a good amount of those figures are misleading. Most of the players who dipped noticeably in their second or third years did so because they missed significant time due to injury. That includes Anquan Boldin, Billy Howton and Paul Warfield in their Year Twos as well as Marques Colston, Dwayne Bowe, Andre Johnson and Julio Jones in their Year Threes. Terry Glenn was limited by injuries in both his second and third seasons. In addition, Cris Collinsworth and Bill Brooks saw their second seasons shortened by player strikes, and the same thing happened to Eddie Brown in Year Three.
A look back at Mike Evans' rookie season in Tampa Bay.
Clearly, injuries can happen to a player at any position, at any point of his career, so that possibility has to be factored in to any projection for Evans…or Beckham, Benjamin or Watkins, as well. Assuming and obviously hoping that Evans stays healthy, we can hope for the kind of trajectory enjoyed by John Jefferson or A.J. Green. I do not expect that having Vincent Jackson on the other end of the line for at least another season will have a negative effect on Evans. You mentioned fantasy football, and this is a philosophy I usually employ in that game: I think it's a good thing when a player has other strong offensive players on his team. It makes the whole offense better, increasing the opportunities for everyone. Last year, Evans had slightly more yards than Jackson despite Jackson getting 142 targets to the rookie's 122. I wouldn't be surprised to see that target ratio even out this year, or perhaps even swing somewhat in Evans favor. That should help his numbers, as well.
The cautionary note is an obvious question: Will the Buccaneers' offense be improved in 2015? There may be a rookie quarterback at the helm. There's a new offensive coordinator in town, though he's far from an unknown commodity. (Dirk Koetter certainly has experience coordinating a prolific passing attack featuring two outstanding starting receivers from his days in Atlanta.) The offensive line is still something of a question mark.
A look back at WR Mike Evans' pro day at Texas A&M. Evans went on to be the Buccaneers 1st round pick (7th overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans works out during pro day for NFL football representatives in College Station, Texas, Thursday, March 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans works out during pro day for NFL football representatives in College Station, Texas, Thursday, March 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider
Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans works out during pro day for NFL football representatives in College Station, Texas, Thursday, March 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans catches a pass from quarterback Johnny Manziel during a drill at pro day for NFL football representatives in College Station, Texas, Thursday, March 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) and wide receiver Mike Evans celebrate after a pass reception during a drill at pro day for NFL football representatives in College Station, Texas, Thursday, March 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and receiver Mike Evans walk the field during Texas A&M Pro Day held at the McFerrin Athletic Center, Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans leaves Texas A&M's pro day held Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans leaves Texas A&M's pro day held Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in College Station, Texas. Evans did not compete in the pro day. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, left, gives receiver LaQuvionte Gonzalez a hug as receiver Mike Evans, right, walks by at the end of Texas A&M's pro day Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in College Station, Texas. Manziel and Evans did not compete. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, from left, and receiver Mike Evans talk with linebacker Nate Askew as he prepares to compete in Texas A&M's pro day held Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
All in all, I think the signs point to a mild increase for Evans. I say "mild" in part because the bar is already set pretty high, so even that improvement would put Evans solidly among the game's elite receivers. That's good news for the Bucs and, possibly, your fantasy team, Mark.
One more note, apropos of nothing: I think the strangest career of all the receivers on that list belonged to Eddie Kennison. As you can see, he fell off after that first 900-yard season, and his numbers remained low for a while. Yet, there were a couple 1,000-yard seasons in his future, about a decade into his career. During the six-year span from his second to seventh season, Kennison averaged almost exactly 500 receiving yards per campaign. Then, for five years from #8 to #12, he averaged just under 1,000 yards. Weird.
3. I know Cameron Brate, the tight end, got into a couple games last year, and he's from Harvard. Is he the first Ivy League player the Bucs have had?Thanks, Scott. Alan Carr, via email to tbbsocial@buccaneers.nfl.com
A countdown of the top 50 overall players in the 2015 NFL Draft as ranked by NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.(Note: this list has been updated to reflect Jeremiah's most recent rankings.)
SMU defensive lineman Elie Nabushosi (7) rushes against Texas A&M offensive linesman Cedric Ogbuehi (70) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
UCLA defensive lineman Owamagbe Odighizuwa gestures to teammates while facing Colorado in the first quarter of an NCAA football game in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Miami's Phillip Dorsett (4) runs against North Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks, top, gets ready for the snap as Southern California center Max Tuerk looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA won 38-20. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oregon offensive lineman Jake Fisher (75) waits for the snap in the first quarter during an NCAA college football game against Utah Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (80) is pictured before an NCAA football game against Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney (50) claps his hands as he prepares for another play at the line of scrimmage in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Southern Mississippi at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. Mississippi State won the season opener, 49-0. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah breaks away from Southern California defenders on a 20-yard touchdown run during the second half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, in San Diego. Southern California won 45-42. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson (9) lines up to cover a Utah State receiver during an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Logan, Utah. (AP Photo/Eli Lucero)
Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams (88) catches a touchdown pass as Syracuse defensive back Darius Kelly (18) defends during the second half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, in Houston. Syracuse won 21-17. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Florida State center Cameron Erving (75) points out an assignment before a snap against Oregon in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015 in Pasadena, Calif. Oregon defeated Florida State 59-20 to advance to the first ever NCAA football playoff championship game. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
Boise State running back Jay Ajayi dives for the touchdown as Arizona cornerback Jarvis McCall Jr. defends during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones (16) runs a drill before an NCAA college football game against Temple in East Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess (1) celebrates a touchdown in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Penn State in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
Mississippi State defensive lineman Preston Smith (91) readies for a tackle against UAB in the second half of an NCAA college football game at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. Mississippi State won 47-34. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Florida State defensive back P.J. Williams (26) defends at the line of scrimmage against Oklahoma State 's Jhajuan Seales (81) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Florida A&M running back Gerald Hearns (30) is tackled by Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman (52) in the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Ohio State wide receiver Devin Smith celebrates after catching a 44-yard touchdown pass during the first half of the Big Ten Conference championship NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
USC Trojans wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) during an NCAA football game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on November 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Washington's Marcus Peters (21) snags the ball in the end zone in front of intended receiver Georgia State's Robert Davis in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, in Seattle. Peters was flagged for pass interference on the play, leading to a Georgia State touchdown on the drive. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Central Florida wide receiver Breshad Perriman (11) breaks a tackle by Connecticut cornerback Jhavon Williams (6) after Perriman's touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in East Hartford, Conn., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Connecticut won 37-29. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
LSU cornerback Jalen Collins (32) celebrates his interception with safety Rickey Jefferson (29) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, in College Station, Texas. LSU won 23-17. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong (21) runs away from Arizona cornerback Jonathan McKnight (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree poses for a headshot during the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday, February 20, 2015 in Indianapolis, IN. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
In this photo taken on Oct. 13, 2012, and provided by the University of Virginia , Virginia's freshman defensive end Eli Harold follows the action during an NCAA college football game against Maryland in Charlottesville, Va. Coach Mike London decided to get more young players involved last week after the Cavaliers had lost four straight, and Harold, an undersized defensive end, was among those that made an immediate impact.(AP Photo/University of Virginia)
Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Ereck Flowers (74) lines up on the field in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Miami defeated Cincinnati 55-34. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (15) celebrates his touchdown against Auburn during the first half of the Southeastern Conference NCAA football championship game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins (70) warms up before an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, September 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat (70) during the second half of the Foster Farms Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Houston defensive end Eric Eiland (21) and Pittsburgh offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings (68) during the second half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Fort Worth. Texas. Houston won 35-34. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman (90) celebrates after Florida place kicker Austin Hardin (16) missed a field goal attempt during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. Florida State won 24-19. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2014, file photo, Alabama defensive back Landon Collins celebrates after Alabama sacked Florida's quarterback during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff looks to block during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Florida offensive linesman D.J. Humphries (70) prepares to block a Tennessee defender during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Clemson's Vic Beasley pursues Syracuse running back Prince-Tyson Gulley during the second half an NCAA college football game in Clemson, S.C., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/ Richard Shiro)
Texas' Malcom Brown (90) lines up against Baylor during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Oregon Alex Balducci, left, and Arik Armstead celebrate a defensive stop against Michigan State during the 1st quarter of their college football game in Eugene, Ore. Saturday Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon (25) stiff arms Auburn defensive back Jermaine Whitehead (35) on a 53-yard touchdown run during the third quarter of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Georgia's Todd Gurley (3) returns a kickoff for a touchdown as Auburn running back Corey Grant (20) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, in Athens, Ga. The touchdown was called back due to a holding penalty. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
In this Sept. 27, 2014, file photo, Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory (4) is stopped by Illinois' Simon Cvijanovic, second from left, and Chris O'Connor, right, as Illinois quarterback Reilly O'Toole (4) throws the ball in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb. G(AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes (15) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Washington defensive lineman Danny Shelton (55) in the first half during the Cactus Bowl NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Senior wide receiver DeVante Parker celebrates after scoring on a 33-yard pass and run play against rival Kentucky in their NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. Louisville came from behind to beat Kentucky 44-40. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota runs as T.J. McDonald and Eric Dungy chase during an NCAA football game against USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Ca,. on Nov. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
South Dakota State quarterback Jacob Menage, left, is sacked by Missouri's Shane Ray during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks for a receiver as Florida defensive lineman Dante Fowler, Jr. (6) pressures him during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson, bottom, is sacked by Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. (6) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated South Carolina 44-11. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) celebrates his touchdown against Ohio State in the second half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
West Virginia's Kevin White (11) catches a pass for a touchdown over Baylor's Xavien Howard (4) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson)
Southern California defensive end Leonard Williams looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Cameron Brate is not the first Ivy League player to perform for the Bucs in the regular season, or even the second or third. He's not even the first Ivy League tight end to play for the team. He is the first Harvard product with that distinction, and with his five games played last year he's actually pretty far up on the leader board.
Getting Brate on the field means the Bucs have now suited up at least one player from six of the eight Ivy League schools, with only Dartmouth and Penn shut out. Yale has the volume lead, with two of its players seeing regular-season action for the Buccaneers.
The king of the Ivy League Bucs is former offensive lineman Tom McHale, a Cornell product who played in 59 games and started 30 from 1987 through 1992. That's 45 more games and 29 more starts than the other five players on the Ivy League list combined. One of those five was Princeton quarterback Jason Garrett, now the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, who was on the roster for part of 2004 but did not get into a game.
After McHale, Yale tight end Nate Lawrie is next with seven games played during the 2004-05 season. Yale was also the first Ivy League school to produce a Buccaneer, as a defensive back named Don Martin got into one game in the franchise's inaugural season of 1976. Brown and Columbia also each had a one-game Buccaneer; wide receiver Chas Gessner for the former in 2007 and cornerback Steve Cargile for the latter in 2009.
Brate's still around; if he can make the team next year he could easily surpass Lawrie for second place on the list of Ivy League Bucs, as sorted by games played. It would take him quite some time to catch McHale.
