The Bucs have signed another player from their recent tryout over the weekend from rookie mini-camp. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman has reported that Tampa Bay has signed defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas. He’ll get an opportunity to compete for a roster or practice squad spot during the offseason.

Playing his college football at Penn State, J-Thomas started all 16 games last season as the Nittany Lions went 13-3, making it all the way to the college football semifinals with four teams remaining before falling to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. He recorded 35 tackles with six tackles for loss and a half sack that season.

Bucs DT Dvon J-Thomas – Photo by: USA Today

Previously known as Dvon Ellies, he changed his name to Dvon J-Thomas before the start of the last season to honor his family. In his college career that spanned six seasons, the 6-foot-1, 305-pound J-Thomas recorded 98 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 2.5 sacks.

Bucs Getting Crowded At Defensive Tackle

Tampa Bay did address the defensive tackle position during the draft by selecting SMU defensive lineman Elijah Roberts in the fifth round. The 6-foot-3, 292-pound Roberts was an edge rusher that the Bucs are moving inside to defensive tackle, but he has the versatility to play anywhere up and down the line of scrimmage in Todd Bowles’ defense.

The Bucs also signed an undrafted free agent defensive tackle after the draft with Florida’s Desmond Watson. He’s been a well-discussed name, as Watson was the heaviest player in NFL history at 464 pounds, but has reportedly trimmed down to 437.

Bucs DT Elijah Roberts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Dvon J-Thomas will have to compete with those two players along with many others to try to find a spot on this team one way or another. With Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Logan Hall set in the lineup of Bowles’ 3-4 defense along with Greg Gaines as a top backup in the rotation, there are many other defensive tackles fighting for a way to make the roster. Veterans such as Mike Greene, C.J. Brewer, Adam Gotsis and Eric Banks are vying for the other two roster spots behind Vea, Kancey Hall and Gaines. That’s in addition to rookies coming in with Roberts, Watson and Nebraska defensive tackle Nash Hutmacher.

Tryout players have made this Bucs’ 53-man roster before, including outside linebacker Markees Watts most recently. There’s a lot of ground to cover, but J-Thomas at least has an opportunity to make the most of it.