Nick Jackson and Dvon J-Thomas are sticking around past the weekend.
Jackson, a linebacker from Iowa, and J-Thomas, a defensive lineman from Penn State, participated in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rookie minicamp this past weekend on tryout contracts, and impressed enough to earn spots on the team's 90-man offseason roster. They were two of 34 tryout participants that practiced with the Buccaneers' rookies on Friday and Saturday, and they signed with the team as undrafted rookies on Monday.
Because Tampa Bay's 90-man roster was full heading into the minicamp, two corresponding moves had to be made to create space for the two former Big 10 standouts. The Bucs created the two openings by waiving first-year linebacker Deion Jennings and rookie tight end Anthony Landphere. Jennings went to training camp as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens last summer, then signed a reserve/futures contract with the Buccaneers in January. Landphere was one of the 15 rookie free agents signed by Tampa Bay after the 2025 draft.
Jackson played four seasons at Virginia before finishing his collegiate run with two years at Iowa, overall appearing in a whopping 73 games. He was extremely productive in those 73 games, racking up 555 tackles, 17.0 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, one interception, 19 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Jackson is now one of two off-ball linebackers the team has signed as rookie free agents after not addressing that position in the draft, as he joins former Nebraska standout John Bullock.
J-Thomas also played six seasons of college ball, all of them at Penn State, as he appeared in a total of 61 games. His career line for the Nittany Lions includes 98 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 2.5 sacks. Last season he helped Penn State make it to the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs, contributing 35 tackles, four tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. The Buccaneers have now signed three rookie defensive linemen since the draft, as J-Thomas joins Nebraska's Nash Hutmacher and Florida's Desmond Watson. The team also used a fifth-round draft pick on versatile SMU defender Elijah Roberts, who is expected to see action on the interior line.
