Small School, Big Wins: The Success of Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jason Licht in Drafting Small School Prospects
When it comes to the NFL draft, many teams tend to focus on players from big-name schools and conferences with well-established football programs. However, Tampa Bay Buccaneers' General Manager Jason Licht has been taking a different approach, and it's paying off in a big way.
Licht has made a habit of targeting small school prospects in the draft, and many of his picks have gone on to become key contributors to the team's recent success. Licht’s most impressive small-school pick is Ali Marpet, a Division III standout from Hobart College drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft. In fact, it may be his best draft pick ever. Despite coming from a small school, Marpet quickly proved himself to be a valuable member of the Buccaneers' offensive line, starting in all 16 games during his rookie season and earning a spot on the NFL's All-Rookie team.
Marpet signed a 2nd contract in Tampa, playing for seven seasons and earning over $37M in a BUCS uniform. He started 101 games for the team and was one of the most positively consistent players on the roster until he retired after the 2020 season.
Jason Licht also hit big on another small-school lineman with Humboldt’s Alex Cappa in 2018. Cappa didn’t see the field much during his rookie and was written off by many BUCS fans. He quickly improved, proved himself, and became a reliable starter by the middle of Year 2. He started the final three seasons of his contract before becoming a highly sought-after free agent at the end of the 2021 season. After leaving Tampa, Cappa signed a $37M/4yr contract with the Bengals.
Another notable small school pick by Licht is Sean Murphy-Bunting, a cornerback from Central Michigan who was selected in the 2nd round of the 2019 draft. Murphy-Bunting took on a starting role in his rookie season and had his ups and downs. His struggles seemingly stemmed from an ankle injury he tried to play through. By the end of the year, it was anyone’s guess as to whether or not he’d be another small-school success story for Licht.
By the end of his second year, the question had been answered. Sean Murphy-Bunting, arguably, turned in the best individual performance of any Buccaneer during the 2020 Super Bowl run. He came away with 3 INTs in 4 Playoff games along with being an absolute nuisance to whoever he covered. While injuries played a major part in his final two seasons in Tampa which led to the cornerback’s entering free agency at the end of his rookie contract, Licht can count Murphy-Bunting as another win in the small-school/conference draft history.
Of course, not every small school prospect drafted by Licht has panned out. Players like Noah Spence and Jeremy McNichols, who came from major programs in Ohio State and Boise, respectively, were drafted by Licht but ultimately didn't live up to expectations. Spence’s trajectory was set extremely high as a 2nd Round Pick. And for the most part, it was reasonable to believe he’d make good on his potential after his rookie season the defensive end came away with 5.5 sacks and 12 QB Hits as a rotational player playing with a separated shoulder. But the injuries kept mounting up. And so did the mental fatigue which led to his quick decline.
Spence didn’t complete his rookie contract in Tampa. He was waived in 2019. Three years into his 4yr deal.
McNichols may be the biggest disappointment of all the Jason Licht picks. McNichols was expected to come in and compete for a significant RB spot in 2017. Drafted in the 5th Round, he had the opportunity to be the backup and eventual successor to Doug Martin, another former Boise State product turned star running back in Tampa.
But to no avail. Jeremy McNichols didn’t even make it to the regular season. He was released after the preseason ended. The San Francisco 49ers picked him up a few months later, and he subsequently appeared in 2 games before being released again.
McNichols has now played for 4 teams, appearing in 34 games with 0 starts since he left Tampa, having not played a single down as a Buccaneer.
Overall, Licht's success in drafting small school prospects is a testament to his ability to identify talent where others might not. While it remains to be seen what small school prospects the Buccaneers will target in future drafts, it's clear that Licht's approach is one that's working, and it could serve as a model for other NFL teams looking to find diamonds in the rough.
Highest Round Selected: 2nd Round Ali Marpet (2015)
All Pro : Ali Marpet (2020, 2021)
Pro Bowl Appearances: Ali Marpet (2021)
2nd Contracts Earned : 2 (Ali Marpet, Ryan Smith)
BUSTS: Jeremy McNichols
