In the Bucs’ 21-15 win against the Falcons on Sunday, it all came together for new Bucs defensive tackle Deadrin Senat – finally.

After his NFL career stalled in Atlanta after being a third-round pick in 2018, Senat missed the 2021 season and then landed with the Bucs this offseason. He needed a fresh start in a familiar place. Senat played his college ball for the Tampa-based USF Bulls, who share a home field at Raymond James Stadium with the Bucs.

Senat, a Florida native, recorded his first career sack against his former team, the Falcons, at Ray-Jay for the Bucs. The former Bulls standout had seven career sacks at USF, including six during his senior season in 2017.

Bucs DL Deadrin Senat – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It was very sweet,” Senat said. “I’m happy I got the sack. It was a blessing and I’m happy to contribute to the win. It’s a sweet moment and it was even more sweet because was here to see it.”

The 6-foot-1, 305-pound fireplug of a defensive tackle didn’t make the 53-man roster after the preseason. Instead, he started the 2022 campaign on the practice squad until being activated for the Green Bay game after Akiem Hicks suffered a foot injury in Week 2 against New Orleans. In just 13 snaps as a reserve against the Packers, Senat registered two tackles and had a game-high 91.5 Pro Football Focus grade.

The last two weeks against Kansas City and Atlanta, Senat has received 17 snaps in each game, grading out with a 76.3 and an 82 grade in each of those games. For the season, Senat is the highest-graded Bucs defender with a 90.6 overall PFF grade, an 87.8 run grade and a 75 pass rush grade.

Bucs DT Senat Praised For His Efforts So Far

“Senat is a good football player,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. “He’s been playing well the last couple of weeks for us. He comes into the ball game – although height-wise, he doesn’t look it – he understands the game. He’s very strong. He’s a very heady player and he’s proven to be a very valuable piece.”

With top reserve Rakeem Nunez-Roches filling in for the injured Hicks as a starter, notching 35, 43 and 37 snaps in each of the last three games, perhaps the Bucs should allow Senat to see more playing time. Especially given how effective he’s been as a run stuffer – and now as a pass rusher with a sack under his belt.

“I’m excited and blessed, and I’ll build on this. I just want to keep improving, too,” Senat said after beating his former team on Sunday. “We hold ourself to a high standard as a defense. We know we have a lot of work to do. We let down on a lot of things, but we’re happy we got the win. That’s the most important thing. This was for who is first in the conference.”

Bowles is pleased with Senat’s progress and is open to giving him more playing time in certain situations moving forward.

“Depending on the situation and what they come out in,” Bowles said. “We have different packages for different people, he has some packages that could increase or decrease depending on what they do.”