The Bucs have signed their first tryout player from this weekend’s rookie mini-camp. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman is reporting that Tampa Bay is signing Iowa inside linebacker Nick Jackson as an undrafted free agent. He’ll compete for a spot on the 53-man roster or the practice squad this offseason.

Auman broke the news on his X account on Sunday.

The Bucs didn’t select an inside linebacker in this year’s draft because it was a very average year at the position in terms of talent. Tampa Bay did sign Nebraska inside linebacker John Bullock after the draft and now have another linebacker straight from college in Jackson.

Bucs Sign Highly Productive ILB Nick Jackson

Nick Jackson played six years of college football due to the COVID year exemption, including his first four seasons at Virginia. He totaled 354 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks with the Cavaliers, in addition to eight pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Once at Iowa he continued to start, helping the Hawkeyes right away with 110 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks and a career-high two forced fumbles. As a senior in 2024, Jackson had 95 stops, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and recorded his first career interception. He also had seven pass breakups.

Bucs ILB Nick Jackson – Photo by: USA Today

In all, Jackson totaled 555 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 19 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception during his college career. The 6-foot, 235-pound Jackson was timed at 4.65 in his pro day 40-yard dash.

Tampa Bay now has eight linebackers on the current roster, including starters Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis, veteran reserves Anthony Walker Jr. and Deion Jones, newcomer Deion Jennings, Antonio Grier Jr., who was on the practice squad last year as an undrafted free agent, and Nebraska’s John Bullock, who was signed as an undrafted free agent this year out of Nebraska.

Jackson becomes the fourth Iowa player on the Bucs roster, joining the likes of outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Kaevon Merriweather.