Round 6: Villanova DE Tanoh Kpassagnon – 6-6, 285 – 4.89 – Senior
The assumption here is that Tampa Bay likely re-signs defensive end Will Gholston and reserve nose tackle Akeem Spence. With the return of pass rushing defensive ends Jacquies Smith and Howard Jones from season-ending ACL injuries, Tampa Bay’s defensive line will be well-stocked in 2017, especially on the edge with Robert Ayers and Noah Spence coming off big seasons in 2016.

The loss of Gholston, a run-stopper at left defensive end, to a dislocated elbow injury in Dallas hurt the Bucs’ chances of making the playoffs with a Week 16 loss at New Orleans as the Saints were able to rush for over 100 yards with Mark Ingram’s 90 yards and two touchdowns leading the way. The selection of Kpassagnon (pronounced pass-N-yo), an incredible athlete from FCS school Villanova, shores up the defensive end position from a size standpoint.

Kpassagnon is a massive, 6-foot-6, 285-pound defensive end with a chiseled frame and good quickness for a player his size. Similarly built to Gholston, but perhaps a bit quicker, Kpassagnon is a solid run-stuffer with an emerging pass rush. After a breakout junior campaign in which he recorded 6.5 sacks, Kpassagnon had 11 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss as a senior.

Kpassagnon’s Villanova Career Stats
2016: 45 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
2015: 33 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
2014: 12 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
2013: 15 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack

Kpassagnon is a late comer to football, only playing the game in high school as his parents were unfamiliar with American football after migrating from Africa. While he has a soft-spoken demeanor, the coaching staff at Villanova say Kpassagnon is far from being a soft player.

“His intangibles are through the roof,” Wildcats defensive line coach Joe Trainer told Philly.com. “He knows a lot of things have to happen, but he can almost taste it. He believes he belongs at the next level. He’s started to figure this whole thing out. The greatest thing he has going for him is his consistency. That’s just the way he approaches life. He’s going to get better. He has the makeup. The work ethic matches the skill.”

Kpassagnon works just as hard in the classroom where his intelligence earned him a spot on the All-Academic team for three straight years while he graduated with a degree in finance prior to his senior season. In 2016, Kpassagnon began pursuing his masters degree in accounting. He already has two job offers from the corporate world, but Kpassagnon wants to give the NFL a shot first – and with good reason.

The Bucs could use more size upfront on the defensive line and like the flexibility of having some of their ends like Gholston and Ayers play inside at defensive tackle, too. Kpassagnon is also that type of player given the fact that he’s close to 290 pounds and has long arms and a broad wingspan. Given the fact that he’s blocked two kicks in college, Kpassagnon, who has been selected to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. in January, could also contribute on special teams as a rookie.

Click below to view Tampa Bay’s seventh-round pick in 2017.