Emeka Egbuka
Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka has drawn lavish praise from teammates and coaches throughout OTAs and training camp for his precision on routes and high football IQ. Not only does the first-year player want to succeed, but Egbuka strives to replicate perfection at his craft on every play. While it may seem like a lofty pursuit, Egbuka embraces every nuance of the game and detests complacency.
"My entire life ever since I have been playing sports, I have never needed external motivation," remarked Egbuka. "There is just something innate in me that makes me drive with everything just a little bit more. I am an over-achiever and a perfectionist to the nth degree, but I think part of that has led me to get here; Just keeping that same mindset and not getting complacent and hopefully I can hang onto that mindset and chase that for years to come."
Egbuka primarily lined up in the slot at Ohio State but can play all three receiver positions. He concluded his collegiate tenure with the most catches (205) in Ohio State lore and skillfully attacks defenders with savvy route running and an understanding of timing. Egbuka controls the catch point and has displayed his quickness in-and-out of breaks. His perfectionist nature shows up in the subtleties of his route running, including delayed adjustments to keep defenders guessing and alterations to tempo at the stem.
Calijah Kancey
Calijah Kancey led the Buccaneers with 7.5 sacks in 2024. He missed the first five weeks of the season but posted 6.5 sacks over the final nine games of the 2024 campaign. Kancey helped set the tone in the trenches opposite Vita Vea and possesses an elite first-step and twitchy feet. Versus slower offensive linemen, Kancey overwhelmed on twists/stunts with his quickness. The penetrating defensive tackle wins with leverage and a high-motor. Kancey has not let the "undersized" narrative define him in the NFL and instead, has found a way to harness it to his advantage. Unlike most, Kancey must operate with flawless technique or he is more susceptible to getting beat by blockers.
"With me being an undersized guy, I can't afford to lack technique because I could put myself in bad body positions versus guys who are already bigger than me, so it is really just a consistency thing – to be able to do the same thing over and over," described Kancey.
Haason Reddick
The Buccaneers pumped up their edge rush in March by signing Haason Reddick to a one-year deal. Reddickhit double digit sacks in four of the last five seasons – for three different teams – and has generated 59.0 sacks and 121 quarterback pressures in his eight-year career thus far. From 2020-23, Reddick was one of the most lethal pass rushers in the game. He accumulated 50.5 sacks in those four seasons, fourth among all NFL players in that span behind only T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson. Reddick also recorded 83 quarterback hits and 51 tackles for loss in that span. Now with a fresh start in Tampa Bay, Reddick has impressed with his explosion off the edge. He has added a veteran presence in the outside linebacker room and has shown his range, change-of-direction and twitchiness on the practice fields.
"He looked great," described Bowles. "He is quick, he's fast and he is very smart. He gets it and he is in great shape right now. He is in a good place."
