Linebackers:The Buccaneers drafted LaVonte David in the second round ( 58th overall) of 2012 NFL Draft, to fill the void left by Buccaneers All-Time Great Mr. Derrick Brooks “Double Nickle” to man the weak side linebacker sport that Brooks made famous as part of the Tampa 2. David made his first Pro Bowl, in 2015, becoming the first linebacker to actual participate in the game for the Bucs since Brooks and Shelton Quarles participated in the 2002 Pro Bowl. David, a 2013 Associated Press All-Pro First Team selection played collegiately at the University of Nebraska where he started all 27 games he played in at Nebraska (2010-11), recording 285 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered. David is the only NFL player with 13+ sacks and 9+ interceptions since start of 2012 season. David ranks first in solo tackles and second in total tackles among all NFL players since entering the league in 2012. He leads all players in both categories since 2013. David has amassed Hall of Fame caliber production during his first four years in the league: Has started all 62 games that he has played, totaling 576 tackles, 31 passes defensed, 13.0 sacks, nine interceptions (1 return TD), eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. David has a nice combination of overall athleticism and size. Versatile, he is a three-down player. David is an instinctive, productive player who plays with a reckless style. He is more of a run-and-hit linebacker than stout run defender at the point-of-attack. He needs to improve his overall tackling consistency in space. David is solid in pass coverage understands his limitations and wins with athleticism, instincts and technique. David’s effective as a blitzer or turning to run with tight ends in coverage.Kwon Alexander was suspended for the final four games of his rookie season, due to a failed Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED) test. Alexander was selected in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers. Alexander started 23-of-32 career games played at LSU (2012-14) he declared for the NFL Draft following his junior season. Alexander led all NFL rookies with 93 tackles. Alexander is the Only NFL player to post 90+ tackles, 2+ interceptions, 2+ forced fumble, 1+ fumble recovery and 3+ sacks. Alexander is undersized by NFL standards to man the middle, yet plays with a ferocious tenacity – playing the run extremely well demonstrating both core and functional strength to take on blockers. While he lacks ideal height weight measurable he has excellent speed and quickness, he’s a good overall athlete who can play in space and improved in coverage as the season culminated. Alexander flashed as a blitzer as a rookie (3 sacks). Alexander will be part of a dynamic duo pairing with David to form one of the most athletic formidable linebacker tandems in the NFL. The Buccaneers signed Daryl Smith in March 2016 as an unrestricted free agent after he was released by the Baltimore Ravens. He started 16 games, and finished the season with 121 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 interception. Smith was originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round (39th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. Since that time, he has spent time with the Jaguars (2004-12) and Ravens (2013-15). Smith played attended Georgia Tech, where he was a four year letterman and a team captain who led the team in tackles for two of his four years. He started 44 of 46 games while at Georgia Tech, recording 383 tackles, 15 sacks, and three interceptions. Smith has played in 174 regular-season games with 172 starts, since entering the NFL. He missed 14-games in 2012 due injury. Smith is one of four active NFL players (Lawrence Timmons, Julius Peppers & Karlos Dansby) with at least 30 sacks & 10 INTs in a career. Smith is one of just two NFL players (Lavonte David) to post at least 350 tackles, 5 sacks, 5 INTs and 4 forced fumbles over the past three seasons (2013-15). Smith is a big linebacker who has decent overall athleticism. He is a physical run defender who is decent at this stage of his career in pass coverage and offers some edge rush ability.The Buccaneers drafted Devante Bond in the sixth round (183rd overall) pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. Bond played for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he started 8 of 21 games, compiling 72 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two passes defensed in his tow season in Norman. Prior to enrolling at OU, Bond was considered a three-star JUCO recruit by Scout.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com during his time at Sierra Community College where he recorded 77 tackles, 17 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and four passes defensed. Bond originally signed with the Miami Hurricanes out of Sierra, due to issues with transfer credits, was unable to enroll and play for the Hurricanes in 2013. He had to take a year off from football while reopening his recruitment. Bond demonstrates the ability to shed blockers. He has quick active hands. He plays with good body control comes to balance in the open field with very little wasted motion. Does not take false steps and is an instinctive player that reads his keys and diagnosis action reacting quickly to what he sees. Is purely a SAM in the pros, that offers help as a blitzer. He has good zone awareness cutting down passing windows. Will start out on special teams while learning under the tutelage of Daryl Smith. The Bucs signed Cassanova McKinzy at the conclusion of the 2016 NFL Draft as a priority undrafted college rookie free agent. McKinzy played for the Auburn Tigers, playing in 48-games. He amassed 263 total tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two passes defensed. Since 2013 McKinzy has played all three linebacker position for the Tigers, starting at weak side, then moving to MIKE in 2014 and concluded his collegiate career by playing the “Buck” or SAM spot in 2015. His versatility to play all three spot and specials teams effectively is of great value. A big bodied powerful old school thumper that offers position flexibility, yet lacks ideal instincts and displays stiffness in his movement. Offers some edge rush ability evident by his five sacks as a senior playing the “Buck” linebacker positon in Will Muschamp’s defense. He has troubles scraping down the line laterally. Luke Rhodes was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2016 NFL Draft, by the Buccaneers. Rhodes played for William & Marry, Rhodes is just one of 11 players in William & Mary history to be selected as a two-time team captain. He finished his career ranked fifth in school history in tackles (341), had 20 tackles for loss, 19 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 5.5 sacks. He earned all-conference honors in each of his four seasons with the Tribe. Rhodes is an athletic middle linebacker, which did not play for a national power. Rhodes played running back and linebacker in high school. Rhodes will be coached in the pros by Mark Duffner, who is a William & Marry graduate. Rhodes has the athletic ability, triangle numbers and tenacity to stick as he continues to hone his skills set. A film room junkie that studies the ins and outs of each team he faces, so he can react to what he’s seen over and over on film. Rhodes is a core special teamer type, smart and plays hard in the mold of Shelton Quarles that will need some time to develop at this level.Jeremiah George was claimed by Tampa Bay off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars in September 2015. George is primarily a reserve linebacker and special team’s player. George originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick, (154th overall) of the New York Jets in the 2014 NFL Draft. George started 17-of-47 games at Iowa State (2010-13), tallying 225 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11 passes defensed, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions (returned 11 yards). George played in 15 games, for the Bucs in 15 recording one tackle on defense and six on special teams, he also accounted for the team’s lone blocked punt. A native Floridian, George attended Clearwater High School (Clearwater, Florida). George is undersized in terms of height and length, but good thickness throughout his frame and is a solid athlete for the position. He is stiff hipped and displays insufficient change-of-direction ability. Has decent balance to keep his feet when taking on blocks and maintaining position to make tackles, is a good run defender, shows good depth on his pass coverage drops and is not much of a blitzer.Josh Keys was signed by Tampa Bay as an undrafted college rookie free agent in July 2015. Keys played in 42 games with 15 starts at Boston College (2011-14), recording 121 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Keys made his NFL debut at Philadelphia (11/22). A special team’s standout, tying for the team lead with 20 special teams snaps in 15’. Keys also saw action on defense having played in seven games and recorded five tackles, including one for loss. Keys is an average height, weight length player, that has ideal overall athleticism. A core special team’s player that worked hard to garner snaps as a sub during his rookie season.Micah Awe was signed to the 90-man roster as an undrafted rookie free agent. Awe’s mother and father, in 1997, emigrated from their home in Nigeria to the U.S. The pair made the trip by way of the Visa Lottery system, one that required a college degree for eligibility. Awe was an academic standout at Texas Tech, played in 51 games, recording 266 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 6 passes defensed and one forced fumble in his four years, with the Red Raiders. Awe played middle linebacker for Texas Tech, but is best suited as a WILL or strong safety candidate in the pros. Awe is undersized and gets engulfed by blockers. Strugglers to bring would be ball carries down at the point of attack, he offers some positional flexibility and special team’s value. Could be used more as a safety linebacker hybrid type to implement a second element to a conceptually flexible defense as a ”Moneybacker” type ala Mark Barron of the Rams and Deone Bucannon of the Cardinals.The Buccaneers signed Adarius Glanton off of the Carolina Panthers practice squad in November 2015. Glanton originally entered the league as a college undrafted rookie free agent with the Carolina Panthers in May 2014. He spent his final two seasons of college eligibility (2012-13) at Florida Atlantic, following two years at Easterm Arizona Community College. He played in 24 games, with 18 starts for FAU, totaling 150 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Glanton attended Lake Gibson High School (Lakeland, Florida). He made his season & Buccaneers debut against Atlanta (12/6). During his time with the Panthers he played in 10 career regular season games, with two starts, recording nine tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and three special teams tackles. Glanton played in two postseason contests, with one start, in Wild Card contest against Arizona as part of a defense that set an NFL record for the fewest yards allowed in a postseason game, with 78. An undersized hit and run type linebacker, Has solid speed, quickness and strength. Developmental upside and special team contributor will be fighting with this year three undrafted rookie free agent linebackers for a spot as a reserve linebacker and core special team’s player.
