Zyon McCollum

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Has appeared in 47 career games, making 29 starts — all for the Buccaneers — and recording 163 tackles (two for loss), 27 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Has appeared in four career postseason contests, making one start and compiling 12 tackles (one for loss) and one pass defensed.

Among cornerbacks who played 80% of their team's coverage snaps in 2024, McCollum ranked fourth in the NFL with a 58.7% completion rate allowed when targeted.

Ranked tied-for-third in the NFL in 2024 with 17 passes defensed.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS:

Played 11 defensive snaps in the Week 1 victory over Washington before leaving due to injury.

Started at cornerback and played all 85 defensive snaps in the Week 2 victory at Detroit, finishing with six tackles, a then-career-high four passes defensed and his first career interception.

McCollum's interception in Week 2 came on Detroit's first play from scrimmage, and marked Tampa Bay's first takeaway of the 2024 season.

Per Next Gen Stats, McCollum allowed just one reception for four yards across five targets in the Week 2 win at Detroit, generating a 0.0 passer rating when targeted.

McCollum was Tampa Bay's second-highest graded defensive player in the Week 2 win, per Pro Football Focus. He led Tampa Bay with an 83.2 coverage grade in the win.

Started at cornerback in Week 3 vs. Denver, playing 67-of-68 defensive snaps and logging six tackles and two passes defensed.

In Week 3, McCollum allowed two receptions across six targets, yielding just 32 yards and generating an opposing passer rating of 52.1. He finished the game as Tampa Bay's highest-graded player, per Pro Football Focus, earning a 90.8 grade.

Through three weeks, McCollum was tied for second in the NFL in passes defensed, with six on the season.

According to Pro Football Focus, McCollum had generated an 89.8 defensive grade across the first three weeks of the season, tops among all cornerbacks in the NFL.

In the Week 4 victory over Philadelphia, started at cornerback and played all 57 defensive snaps, tallying three tackles. Yielded just two receptions for five yards on four targets in the win.

Through 4 Weeks, McCollum led all cornerbacks with a 90.1 overall grade on Pro Football Focus.

In Week 5 at Atlanta, played all 87 defensive snaps and logged a then-career-high 10 tackles and two passes defensed.

Through 5 Weeks, McCollum led the NFL with eight passes defensed and was Pro Football Focus' highest-ranked cornerback with a 90.6 overall grade.

In the Week 6 win over New Orleans, played all 70 defensive snaps and recorded one tackle, two passes defensed, and one interception.

Through six weeks, McCollum's 10 passes defensed led the NFL. x Per Pro Football Focus, McCollum was the highest-graded cornerback in the NFL through six weeks, earning an 89.4 overall defensive grade. He also had the seventh-lowest opponent passer rating in the NFL among cornerbacks that had played at least 80% of their team's coverage snaps.

Played all 59 defensive snaps in Week 7 vs. Baltimore, recording five tackles and his first career fumble recovery.

In Week 8 vs. Atlanta, played all 62 defensive snaps and logged six tackles. Per Next Gen Stats, was targeted just one time and did not allow a completion, generating an opponent passer rating of 0.0.

Per Pro Football Focus, McCollum was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defensive starter in Week 8, earning a 72.8 overall defensive grade.

Through 8 weeks, McCollum was the highest-graded cornerback in the NFL among players who had played at least 80% of their team's snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He had an 84.4 overall defensive grade.

Played all 85 defensive snaps in Week 9 at Kansas City, totaling seven tackles (one for loss). Was targeted five times and yielded just eight receiving yards, generating an opponent passer rating of 79.2.

Was Tampa Bay's highest-graded player in Week 9 at Kansas City, earning a 78.8 overall defensive grade.

In Week 10 vs. San Francisco, played 55-of-64 defensive snaps and tallied three tackles before leaving with injury.

Played all 59 defensive snaps in the Week 12 win over the New York Giants, finishing with seven tackles. Was targeted eight times and yielded just 64 receiving yards on the day.

In the Week 13 win at Carolina, played all 70 defensive snaps and finished with two tackles and one pass defensed.

In the Week 13 win, was targeted five times and did not allow a single reception, limiting Carolina to a 0.0 opponent passer rating when targeted.

Played all 67 defensive snaps in the Week 14 win over Las Vegas, totaling six tackles. Was targeted eight times, yielding a 62.5% completion rate and an 88.0 passer rating when targeted.

In the Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, played all 52 defensive snaps and tallied four tackles.

Played 59-of-60 defensive snaps in Week 16 at Dallas, recording two tackles and one pass defensed. Yielded just two receptions.

In the Week 17 win over Carolina, played all 47 defensive snaps and logged six tackles and one pass defensed.

Per Next Gen Stats, McCollum allowed an average separation window of 1.6 yards per target in Week 17, the best mark of any Buccaneers defender (min. two targets).

Played all 66 defensive snaps in the Week 18 victory over New Orleans, producing six tackles and a career-high-tying four passes defensed.

In Week 18, McCollum became the only player in the NFL in 2024 to record multiple games with four-or-more passes defensed, and became the first player to record multiple such games in the same season since Jamel Dean in 2019 (three games).

McCollum finished the season with 17 passes defensed on the year — tied for the third-most in the NFL in 2024.

In the Wild Card round against Washington, started at cornerback and played 68-of-73 defensive snaps. He finished with three tackles (one for loss) and one pass defensed.

COLLEGE:

Played in 56 games, making 52 starts, over five seasons at Sam Houston State (2017-21), recording 145 tackles (10 for loss), 54 passes defensed, 13 interceptions and six forced fumbles over his collegiate career.

Named third-team All-America by the Associated Press in his senior season in 2021, in addition to being named second-team All-America by Phil Steele and first-team All-WAC.

Invited to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl and the East West Shrine Bowl.

During his fifth and final season in 2021, McCollum produced 50 tackles, eight passes defensed, three interceptions and one blocked kick.

Earned first-team All-Southland honors in his true senior season (2020/21), appearing in 10 games and recording 46 tackles, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one interception.

Received second-team All-Southland recognition in 2019, posting 23 tackles, 11 passes defensed, three interceptions and two forced fumbles in nine games played.

Garnered first-team All-Southland honors in just his second season at Sam Houston State (2018), starting all 11 games and finishing the season with 44 tackles, 11 passes defensed, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Played in 14 games as a true freshman, starting 10, intercepting three passes to become the first Sam Houston freshman with three-or-more picks in a season since 1973. McCollum added 42 tackles, a career-best 17 passes defensed and 1.0 sack.

PERSONAL:

Attended Ball High School (Galveston, Texas), where he was a team captain, team MVP and all-county performer. Ball High School is also the alma mater of Tampa Bay's all-time leading receiver, Mike Evans.

Has an identical twin brother, Tristin, who plays safety for the Philadelphia Eagles.