Bucs Hall of Fame cornerback Ronde Barber has been in Zyon McCollum’s shoes before. Both talented cornerbacks have ball skills, each recording plenty of interceptions in college (Barber 15, McCollum 13). Both were mid-round picks by the Bucs. And both really struggled as rookies in Tampa Bay.

Of course the 6-foot-2, 199-pound McCollum ran a 4.33 at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2022, whereas the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Barber ran a woeful 4.68 time back in 1997. They were quite different athletes, but both entered a critical second season with a lot to prove.

Barber needed to get in better shape in order to get faster in coverage in 1998, and McCollum needs to be a better tackler and get the hesitation out of his game this year. Barber and McCollum had one more thing in common following their rookie seasons – plenty of doubters.

Barber, who is a preseason commentator for the Bucs TV broadcasts on WFLA News Channel 8 and a Bucs analyst for Buccaneers.com, sees a lot of potential in McCollum, whose newfound confidence has him proclaiming that he wants to develop into a dominant force.

Ronde Barber Says Zyon McCollum Needs To Listen To The Doubters

Ronde Barber used any and every slight from the media, the NFL community and the Bucs’ own front office as fuel in his career, especially early on when he was considered a bust after being benched most of his rookie year in 1997. While he was not ready for his first opportunity, he made the most of his chance in his sophomore season and never looked back. He sees a lot of that in Zyon McCollum.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s like that your first year,” Barber said. “You get an opportunity to play, and sometimes the moment is too big, right? Whether or not that’s his preparation, his adjusting to the moment but college football, pro football, they’re different, dude.

“It happens so much faster, there are so many more intricacies to what’s happening in front of you, and you can tell he just wasn’t ready for it. He had opportunities to play, and when you’re a rookie and you get opportunities to play and you kind of fall flat a little bit, that’s all the sudden what you are because, ultimately, you only are what you put on tape.”

With Barber being a Bucs’ film guru and doing weekly sessions throughout the season, he saw what McCollum put on tape. While he saw him struggle, especially as a tackler on the perimeter, he also recognizes that improvement only comes with real game experience and a studious mind. As he continues to develop and hone his skills, he will then be able to turn the page and write a better second chapter.

“I watched the tape, and there were moments where I was like, ‘Dammit, Zyon!’” Barber laughs. “The good thing about having failure is it just sets you up for success later. It really does. He’s got tape to look at, so if he studies himself and understands maybe where his [mistakes] were, he can be better. He can use that as something to stand on going forward.”

McCollum told Pewter Report that the game has slowed down for him this offseason, and that missing the final two preseason games due to a hamstring injury really put him behind during his rookie season.

“By the end of the preseason, they’re not even teaching anymore – it’s go, go, go because we’re in-season and we have a game coming up every week,” McCollum said. “I was behind big time. I don’t like to make excuses. The injury was something I was dealt. But I took advantage of the OTAs and the offseason this year and just learned. I finally feel up to speed at this point.”

After his rookie year, there are surely those who already see McCollum not panning out in Tampa Bay. But any doubt and criticisms of his play and ability are enough motivation to prove people wrong.

“He can look at this podcast and be like, ‘Dammit, that Ronde is doubting my ass!'” Barber said. “People doubted me, man. I used it. It’s fuel.”

– Scott Reynolds contributed to this story

Watch Ronde Barber On The Pewter Report Podcast

Bucs legend Ronde Barber joined Scott Reynolds and Matt Matera to discuss his Hall of Fame career as well as the current 2023 Bucs on a recent episode of the Pewter Report Podcast.