Just two hours after Zyon McCollum returned a Kyle Trask interception for a touchdown early in Friday’s 11-on-11 practice, the Bucs’ second-year cornerback smiled and briefly returned back to his rookie season in an exclusive interview with Pewter Report.

McCollum talked about his less-than-stellar showing in his first year in the NFL as almost an out-of-body experience.

That wasn’t really him, was it?

That wasn’t the uber-talented, blazing fast cornerback with the 4.33 40-yard dash who tore it up at the NFL Scouting Combine.

That wasn’t the guy who picked off 15 passes in five years at Sam Houston, right?

As it turns out, yes, it was.

McCollum was a guy who missed too many tackles on defense last year, didn’t play fast and didn’t make any plays on the ball outside of just one pass breakup against Baltimore in Week 8.

Oh, what a difference a year makes.

Zyon McCollum Talks About “The Big Jump”

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

Looking back, Zyon McCollum admitted he wasn’t ready to make the jump from an FCS school to the NFL last year. He looked nothing like the confident cornerback who jumped a route, broke on the ball and took Trask’s pass to the house on Friday.

“The jump was big, it was definitely big,” McCollum said of his rookie season. “You’re kind of star-struck at first. I know I was in that Carolina game. Everything felt so surreal. I didn’t really feel like I was out there – but I’m playing plays, and people are depending on me to hold my own.

“It was definitely a big jump, and it was crazy. Things have actually slowed down now and I feel like I belong. Not only belong, but I feel like I can make plays and I can grow myself into a dominant force in this league.”

McCollum’s problems last year started with a hamstring injury in joint practices with the Titans in Tennessee. That caused him to miss the last three weeks of training camp and the final two preseason games.

“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.”

Bucs’ Speedy CB Was A Step Behind All Last Year

Zyon McCollum needed a bunch of reps last August to help accelerate his learning curve in Todd Bowles’ complex defense, but his hamstring injury robbed him of that opportunity.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and Panthers TE Tommy Tremble – Photo by: USA Today

“I was always a step behind last year,” McCollum said. “When you’re a step behind and then you realize, ‘Oh shoot, the game is being played,’ you feel like you have to go extra fast and super full-speed into situations and it ends up tripping you up. Now that I realize how to play, now I can move around comfortably and I can come up and actually see, I can put myself into positions to make plays.

“Last year I felt like a fan who had the best seat in the house [on the field] – but I was just watching, not really playing out there. Now that I understand my job and the jobs of the people around me, I can finally make plays and play with my eyes open.”

Bowles never lost faith in McCollum, whom he and general manager Jason Licht traded up for in the fifth round in 2022. This past offseason, McCollum became one of Bowles’ best pupils and dove headfirst into the classroom and film study.

“Coach Bowles sat me down and we had a ton of talks,” McCollum said. “He told me, ‘If you’re going to make a mistake you better make it at full speed. He wants me to just drop my nuts and just play balls-to-the-wall and use my gifts to my advantage. We had a bunch of talks, especially in the OTAs about learning how to play this game.

“We have a great relationship and I’m still learning from him every day. It’s good to have a guy that is that knowledgeable think that highly of you. It motivates me. You want to play for him instead of just with these guys.”

Zyon McCollum Could Get A Shot At Starting At Nickelback In August

Bucs head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles was pleased with Zyon McCollum’s play on Friday. In addition to his pick-six, McCollum also had a deep pass breakup against Mike Evans, who was blanketed in coverage.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“The mental part of it slows down for him,” Bowles said. “He had a year in the system. We have some different things we do back there and he’s feeling more comfortable.”

There has been some talk that Bowles will give McCollum a shot to win the open nickelback job at some point in camp, but the 6-foot-2, 199-pounder has been exclusively playing outside this offseason and at the start of camp.

“So far, I’m focusing on the outside role and being CB3 and getting that locked down,” McCollum said. “After the first preseason game we might have that talk to hone in on nickel and see about starting there for the season. But right now I’m focusing outside and getting that completed locked.”

With Antoine Winfield Jr. and Sean Murphy-Bunting both sidelined with injuries, Bowles needed McCollum to fill in at slot corner for the Bucs’ home game against the Saints in Week 13. It didn’t go well, as McCollum missed three tackles against New Orleans and was targeted six times, giving up six catches for 64 yards. That week, he earned a 33.3 grade from Pro Football Focus, his lowest of the year.

“Versus the Saints – it was crazy because I hadn’t learned how to play nickel yet,” McCollum said. “I had three days to learn a completely new position. I didn’t necessarily feel lost out there, but if you don’t know the ins and outs of your job, and you aren’t completely confident in it, then it’s easy to look like you’re a step behind everything. That’s how I felt.

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

“Now that I actually understand the defense and my help and the jobs around me, I feel confident that I could learn and play any defensive back role on this team. If they tell me what to do, I’ll be ready for it.”

McCollum spent the offseason preparing to be ready for training camp. And on Friday, he was certainly ready to take Trask’s pass back for a touchdown.

“You can’t take the day off because it happened in the first period, but it sure was a nice start to my day,” McCollum said. “We just put that coverage in [Thursday] and we practiced it in indy (individual drills) and I was waiting for the look. I got the look and I triggered and the quarterback threw it.

“It’s night and day how much more confident I am,” McCollum said. “Getting comfortable – that’s my main thing. I finally feel like I’m playing football. It’s a great feeling. Once I’m comfortable, I’m like a magnet. The ball is going to come my way.”