Former WR Looking For Spot at Linebacker By Bill Kemp LEDGER MEDIA GROUPPublished: August 2, 2014 at 1:04 a.m.
Buccaneers' outside linebacker Nate Askew (53) prepares to assist on a tackle during practice drills on Thursday.BILL KEMP | LEDGER MEDIA GROUPTAMPA For Nate Askew, a funny thing happened on his way to the NBA. He found himself at One Buc Place auditioning to become an NFL outside linebacker.The undrafted free-agent rookie — fresh out of Texas A&M — made the drastic transition from wide receiver to linebacker in 2013. He was heading into his senior season in College Station, Texas, after the Kevin Sumlin head coaching era began and a spread offense arrived."I really didn't fit into the spread offense, so my junior year I really didn't play much at all," said Askew, after Thursday's Buccaneer practice. "The coaches came to me in the offseason and asked if I would move to defense."I was always a physical receiver. Coming to defense was way better than getting hit, I tell you that much. I enjoyed the switch. I wish I would have switched my junior year."Now the 6-foot-4, 235-pound speedster is trying to parlay a single-season of collegiate defensive experience, where he recorded 33 stops and 22 solo tackles and ranked second on the team with two interceptions, into one of the 53-man roster spots with the Buccaneers."Having only played linebacker one year before this, I think I have a lot of catching up to do. I have a lot of work in front of me," Askew said.But as improbable as the challenge might seem, Askew isn't backing off. He made a leap-frog move in the past when he surrendered his basketball dreams at Madison High School in San Antonio and began taking football seriously after his coach told him his 6-foot-2 frame had no future on the hardwoods unless he played point guard."I am the first person in my family to play football, and I didn't start playing football until late," Askew said. "If you asked me what I was going to do when I was younger, I thought I was going to the NBA. When I started playing football, I didn't think anything of it until I started getting a lot of offers."Askew first arrived at One Buc Place on a winter-time pre-draft visit, and after some encouraging words from new head coach Lovie Smith, the former Aggie packed his bags for Tampa."Coach Lovie told me I am very young and very raw at the position, but he would be able to coach me up to becoming a better linebacker," Askew said. "We came back from winter break, and the coaches really took me under their wings and I was in the office every day trying to learn the position."In college, Askew utilized his speed and hands – two intrinsic traits for wide receivers – to get off blocks quickly and gain an advantage as an outside linebacker. But now he's learning to read and react more after reading the playbook a lot."In college, I was an off-the-edge linebacker playing in a 3-4 defense," Askew said. "Now the biggest challenge for me is playing in the box behind the line and seeing different techniques — when the guard is pulling, I have to go outside."Now I am trying to learn this 4-3-and-a-box stuff, and it is kind of hard on me. But I have great coaches here. So it is like my head is spinning a little bit, and I am picking it up day by day."Askew said he is struggling with his technique, but the Buccaneer coaching staff has been patient with him. Still, he understands he must show improvement daily."I definitely am getting in my playbook," Askew said "Danny Lansannah ( Buccaneer third-year linebacker) has kind of mentored me, and he makes sure I know my keys. On paper, I know what to do. But I get out there on the field and everything is happening fast, so I don't understand it. He told me to just slow the game down."Regardless of whether Askew secures a job when the rosters are trimmed down from 90 players to 75 and eventually 53 later this month, the former Aggie plans to keep auditioning."This is just a stepping stone. I appreciate Coach Lovie for having me out here and taking a chance and even having me as undrafted free agent," Askew said. "If I don't make the team, and I'm hoping I do, I'm going to keep going. There are 31 other teams, and I'll keep plugging away. Just keep moving forward, that's all I can do."
