While it might seem like cornerback Zyon McCollum is still the new kid on the block, he is now entering his fifth season with the Bucs.

At 27 years old, McCollum is now the longest-tenured cornerback in the room, making him a veteran compared to the younger players next to him, such as 2025 draft picks Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish.

Adding to that are the new additions on the roster via free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. That injection of talent is something McCollum has enjoyed seeing come together. Between remaining players hungry to overcome last year and newcomers bringing a much-needed hunger to change the culture, there has been a noticeable change in attitude and the level of work being put in.

Bucs NCB Jacob Parrish and CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Having a lot of new pieces in now, it’s almost like there is a new energy around the building,” McCollum said on Monday’s Pewter Report Podcast. “Being a part of the offseason program and everything – I’ve never worked this hard since being here. That type of work is bringing guys together, it’s creating a new attitude, it’s creating a new passion. It’s an exciting thing moving forward.”

New Position Coaches, New Strength & Conditioning Coach Bring Energy, Intensity To Bucs

Head coach Todd Bowles is in charge of the team, serving as the stoic voice and presence on the sidelines. As opposed to recent years, that is needed given the contrast of nonstop energy from the assistant coaches on staff, especially the new voices brought in from the outside.

That was a key takeaway attending rookie mini-camp last week, as defensive line coach Marcus West and special teams coordinator Danny Smith were seen running around and not being afraid of coaching up players through yelling and vocalizing instructions.

Bucs ST coordinator Danny Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In the secondary, cornerbacks coach Kevin Ross and safeties coach Nick Rapone were each replaced by coaches who are over 20 years younger, only adding to the heightened energy.

Chad Wade replaced Anthony Piroli this offseason as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. Wade, who has been a longtime assistant in the weight room, joined the Bucs in 2014 and was brought in by general manager Jason Licht. Wade and Licht played football together at Nebraska Wesleyan in the 1990s.

Wade has ramped things up in the weight room and on the practice field in terms of lifting and conditioning. So, it comes as no surprise that McCollum views the offseason program as more intense than in recent years, reminiscent of his time at Sam Houston State. He is not the only one who views it that way, either.

Bucs strength and conditioning coach Chad Wade – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“It’s been grueling,” McCollum said of the practices so far. “Everybody appreciates it, everybody has been kind of saying it reminds them of a college program. It’s like, ‘Man, we were doing crazy stuff like this back in college and yada yada yada…’ Really grinding and really working super hard in the heat, putting the reps in. In the past, it hasn’t necessarily been like that.

“We’ve always worked extremely hard, but I think this year is just taking it to a completely new level. Not letting off the gas, and I really love the philosophy, and I love the culture change.”

McCollum’s comments offer some encouragement looking ahead to the season, but the talk is only as good as it can be backed up with performing when it counts. Zyon McCollum feels that like few players on the Bucs, and how he plays will be key to the defense’s success.

Watch Bucs CB Zyon McCollum On The Pewter Report Podcast

Zyon McCollum shared plenty with Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera on Monday’s Pewter Report Podcast. To hear more about what McCollum said during his near hour-long appearance, click the link below to watch.