Ko Kieft

Acquired By Bucs:

Selected in the sixth round (217th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.

Acquired By Bucs:

Selected in the sixth round (217th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.

2022 Highlights:

Led Tampa Bay with 11 special teams tackles, including a team-high eight solo tackles. Paced all offensive players with 269 special teams snaps.

Finished the 2022 campaign with seven receptions for 80 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Appeared in Week 1 at Dallas in a reserve capacity.

Made his first career start in Week 2 at New Orleans, logging 24 offensive snaps and 18 snaps on special teams.

Appeared on special teams and in a reserve capacity in Week 3 vs. Green Bay. Recorded one tackle on special teams.

Hauled in his first career reception, a 19-yard completion, in Week 4 vs. Kansas City.

Appeared on special teams and in a reserve capacity in Week 5 vs. Atlanta. Recorded one tackle on special teams.

Appeared on special teams and in a reserve capacity in Week 6 at Pittsburgh. Recorded one tackle on special teams.

Recorded one reception for 18 yards in Week 7 at Carolina.

Started in Week 8 vs. Baltimore and recorded one reception for nine yards. Also added one tackle on special teams.

Started in Week 9 vs. L.A. Rams and hauled in one reception for six yards.

Appeared in a reserve capacity and on special teams in Week 10 vs. Seattle.

Recorded his first career touchdown in Week 12 at Cleveland, hauling in a five-yard completion from Tom Brady. Kieft became the 94th different touchdown target of Brady's regular season career and the 96th different target including postseason.

Hauled in one reception for 12 yards in Week 13 vs. New Orleans. Also appeared on special teams.

Logged one reception for 11 yards in Week 14 at San Francisco. Also contributed three special teams tackles.

Appeared in a reserve capacity and on special teams in Week 15 vs. Cincinnati.

Appeared in a reserve capacity and on special teams in Week 16 at Arizona, logging one special teams tackle.

Appeared in a reserve capacity and on special teams in Week 17 vs. Carolina.

Appeared in a reserve capacity and on special teams in Week 18 at Atlanta.

College:

Appeared in 49 games over five seasons at Minnesota (2017-21), recording 12 receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

In his final season with the Golden Gophers in 2021, Kieft blocked for an offense that totaled 4,681 yards and averaged 25.5 points per game, earning him All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition.

Set career highs as a fifth-year senior with seven receptions and 101 receiving yards, adding one touchdown.

Appeared in four games, making one touchdown reception in 2020 during a condensed season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Played in 12 games in 2019, blocking for an offense that accumulated its school's third-highest yardage total (5,616) in program history, while throwing for a school record 3,293 passing yards. Minnesota's 443 points scored in 2019 were the second-most in program history.

In 2018, Kieft saw time in all 13 games and was part of an offense that eclipsed 20 touchdowns passing and 20 touchdowns rushing in the same season for the first time since 2006.

Primarily played on special teams as a redshirt freshman in 2017, making his collegiate debut vs. Buffalo (8/31/17).

Redshirted as a true freshman in 2016.

Personal:

Attended Sioux Center High School (Sioux Center, Iowa), where he played both quarterback and linebacker.

Named all-state as a linebacker by the Des Moines Register.

In addition to football, Kieft competed in baseball, track and wrestling.

He was ranked as the No. 7 player in the state of Iowa by ESPN and the No. 10 player in Iowa by 247Sports.

Son of Jerry and Linda Kieft.