The Bucs certainly need to boost their defensive line this offseason, especially in terms of depth. And in their search for some help up front, they could go back to a college pipeline they’ve drawn from before.

Central Michigan defensive lineman Thomas Incoom has spoken with the Bucs while in Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl, he told Pewter Report after Tuesday’s practice. As an edge rusher with the Chippewas, the 6-foot-2, 265-pound Incoom totaled 11.5 sacks in 2022, tying him for third-most in college football. He trailed only USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu (13.5) and Eastern Michigan’s Jose Ramirez (12).

Throughout Senior Bowl week, Incoom has kicked inside and played as an interior defensive lineman, showing off some versatility to his game.

“I’ve done it before and I’m showing everybody I can do it inside and outside,” Incoom told Pewter Report after Wednesday’s practice. “If they want to plan on putting me outside [or] inside, I’ll do it.”

Central Michigan edge rusher Thomas Incoom – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs have drawn from Central Michigan a couple of times in Jason Licht’s tenure as their general manager. The team first drafted cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, one of the stars of the 2020 Super Bowl run, in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Then, last year, Licht and Co. selected guard Luke Goedeke in the second round of the 2022 Draft. So, it shouldn’t be a major surprise that Tampa Bay has spoken with Incoom, as Licht and the Bucs have often relied on a few different college pipelines when draft season rolls around.

Incoom may be a developmental player as a Day 3 pick, but he’s someone who could blossom into a real pass rushing threat once he makes the jump from the MAC to the NFL. He’s explosive and plays with some impressive strength, and he projects as someone who may just need a couple of years at the pro level to put all of the tools together and turn into a solid contributor.

The Bucs have Vita Vea, 2022 second-round pick Logan Hall, 2021 first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and the returning-from-injury Shaquil Barrett as the core of their defensive front right now, and they’ll need to build it up not only this offseason but next year as well.

Incoom Has Love For Bucs LG Goedeke

Incoom told Pewter Report that he watched the Bucs a lot this past year given the presence of Goedeke, who he played with at Central Michigan. The two are obviously familiar with each other, especially considering the fact that Goedeke was a tackle at the college level. They had plenty of battles out on the practice fields back then.

And although Goedeke struggled in his time as a rookie starter before an injury cost him his starting spot in favor of Nick Leverett, Incoom is understandably bullish on his former teammate’s ability and chances of turning into a reliable player for the Bucs.

“He’s getting better,” Incoom said. “He’s still the same dude I know – very dominant in everything he does. He’s still been the same guy, winning every time.”

When he starts his NFL journey, Incoom obviously faces a similar learning curve to the one Goedeke faced this past season. He’ll transition from competing in the MAC to playing at the highest level with some of the strongest and most elite athletes on the planet. But Incoom seems well suited for it, and if he were to mix in and get his feet wet early before turning into a potential starter, that’s good value for where he’s projected to fall in the draft.

And whether Incoom ends up in Tampa or goes elsewhere in April’s draft, he’s excited to see his fellow Chippewa again.

“It would be great,” Incoom said. “Central Michigan, let’s run it back again. I’m ready to dominate him wherever I see him at.”