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After months of growing anticipation, Bucs training camp is underway. Friday was the third day of training camp and there were some standout performers as well as a few who underwhelmed.

Following Day 3 of camp, who were the biggest studs and duds on the practice fields?

Studs From Day 3 Of Bucs Training Camp

QB Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield was the talk of the town (and the NFL world) after his eye-opening Thursday press conference. After stating his focus going forward is “all about ball,” it was easy to believe Mayfield in spectating how he was zipping the football around. Maybe it is out of frustration for not getting a deal done before training camp, but there is extra velocity coming off his throws.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

He was efficient and avoided being too inaccurate, and if his reads weren’t open, he was fine going to his checkdown valve, which was mainly Kenny Gainwell. When it came to throwing the long ball, the play of the day was him launching a moonshot that Emeka Egbuka hauled in for a big touchdown. From this point forward, Mayfield play will be under more of a microscope — but he prefers it that way.

RB Bucky Irving

The Bucs had their best day on the ground so far in training camp, and Bucky Irving led the way. Irving was given the most carries on Friday morning, as Kenny Gainwell was primarily utilized as a receiver out of the backfield. The biggest run of the day was out of the pony package, when Irving took the carry on a delayed handoff, accelerated through the middle of the field, and was able to speed down the field. Not only would it have been a game-changing run, but the “Bucky, Bucky, Bucky” chants made it feel like a regular-season moment.

WR Emeka Egbuka

As alluded to above, Emeka Egbuka’s big touchdown catch from Baker Mayfield was the highlight play of the morning. Egbuka added a couple of more catches and is having a strong summer so far. With one of the biggest questions coming into camp being who the beneficiary of a bigger workload would be, it appears that the 2025 first-round pick is ready to handle those responsibilities.

DT Elijah Roberts

Vita Vea remained out, and veteran A’Shawn Robinson joined him in what Todd Bowles attributed to a rest day. That opened the door for extra repetitions for the other defensive tackles, and Elijah Roberts stood out right away. Roberts opened the morning with a sack in the first play of 11-on-11s. No one else really stood out in the trenches, but displaying his pass-rushing abilities is something to build off as the team gets ready to get into pads and turn up the dial.

CB Ayden Garnes

While Benjamin Morrison returned to practice and participated in individual drills, he did not take part in any 11-on-11s. It was a day where the depth cornerbacks got the chance to prove themselves, and undrafted free agent Ayden Garnes stepped up the most.

Bucs CBs Ayden Garnes and Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While Garnes was a part of the Emeka Egbuka touchdown catch along with Tykee Smith, he had a strong day otherwise against tough competition. Todd Bowles commended him after practice for his efforts and praised his skillset.

“Very good coverage skills,” Bowles said. “Very good cover guy. For a corner that small, he’s got great feet and very good instincts. Want to see him in pads, as well.”

After being one undrafted free agent who I had my eye on before training camp, Garnes certainly caught my attention as someone who could stick considering the cornerbacks who had “dud” days.

Duds From Day 3 Of Bucs Training Camp

TE Devin Culp

Devin Culp does not want to be the odd man out in the Bucs tight end room, but it is sure beginning to look that way. Cade Otton, Payne Durham, and Bauer Sharp have all gotten more run out there than Culp so far. Heck, even Ko Kieft had a catch today. Culp had a chance to do the same when he was targeted, but he dropped a catchable ball. Right now, it is hard to imagine that he makes the cut.

Bucs TEs Cade Otton and Devin Culp – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With a deep group of candidates at the position, every repetition from this point on he really has to make the most of.

CB Josh Hayes

Another day, another dud from Josh Hayes. Hayes is hoping to win one of the final cornerback spots, but unless it is for his special teams ability, it is hard to see him making an impact on defense. His coverage skills have not been up to par, and he continued to get burned on the practice field on Friday. The biggest blunder on his part came covering Tez Johnson early, as Johnson caught the ball and put a move on Hayes to get down the field.

CB Demarion Williams

Demarion Williams played with the first, second, and third-team defenses and got plenty of time on the field. Unfortunately, Williams failed to stand out in a positive way. He got lost on a route run by Jalen McMillan, who hauled in a deep pass down the left sideline from Baker Mayfield. It is still early in camp, but at 28 years old, the team might prefer to start giving younger corners more practice reps than him.