The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made what some would call a bold move in the 2023 NFL Draft by selecting Calijah Kancey, a defensive tackle out of the University of Pittsburgh, with their first-round pick. Kancey, who had a stellar college career, is expected to play a key role in the Buccaneers' defense in the upcoming season. In this blog post, we will explore Kancey's background, his college statistics, and how he compares to fellow alumni Aaron Donald and Jaylen Twyman.

Calijah Kancey's Background:
Calijah Demetrius Kancey grew up in South Florida, where he began playing football at a young age. He grew up with four siblings. Three sisters and one brother. He attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School, where he stood out on the football team. Fellow Buccaneer Lavonte David attended the same school while growing up. Several college programs heavily recruited Kancey, but he ultimately chose to attend the University of Pittsburgh.

College Career Statistics:
While at the University of Pittsburgh, Kancey was a dominant force on the defensive line. He only started the season's last four games in his freshman year, but he was named a Freshman All-American. And he never looked back. The following year, he was awarded All ACC(3rd Team) after leading the Panthers in tackles for loss and having the second-most sacks(7). In his final year at Pitt, he became a Unanimous All-American. The first Unanimous All-American defensive tackle from the University of Pittsburgh since Aaron Donald in 2013. He also took home the award for ACC Defensive Player Of The Year. Kancey's career statistics compare favorably to those of fellow Pitt alumni Aaron Donald and Jaylen Twyman. They both led the ACC in sacks for at least one of their seasons.

Comparing Calijah Kancey to Aaron Donald and Jaylen Twyman:
Aaron Donald, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Rams, is widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. During his college career at Pitt, Donald recorded 181 tackles, 66 tackles for loss, and 29.5 sacks. Donald has gone on to not only beat the odds, but set the standard for every defensive tackle in the NFL.

While Kancey's career statistics are not quite as impressive as Donald's, they are very similar to Twyman's. Twyman’s stock plummeted partially because of his having to opt out during the 2020 season due to Covid concerns. Prior to that, he had a breakout sophomore season that saw him amass 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks in 2019. He eventually became a 6th Round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, tragedy struck as was the victim of a shooting incident where he was shot four times. The former Pitt Panther hasn't bounced back yet, whether it’s because of a physical restriction or a mental hurdle. He’s currently with the Miami Dolphins, hoping to get back on track.

Kancey's ability to disrupt the opposing team's offense and get to the quarterback is what made him so attractive to the Buccaneers in the draft. His strength and quickness off the line of scrimmage are reminiscent of both Donald and Twyman, and he has the potential to be just as dominant at the NFL level. Both Donald and Kancey have shown remarkable anticipation at the snap of the ball followed by quick twitch footwork and active hands when attacking the quarterback. So, the comparisons were bound to come. They also share a similar physical frame. Donald measured in at 6’0, 285lbs while in college. Kancey, the former Panther-now-Pirate, came in at 6’0, 281lbs.

Both were considered “undersized” for the NFL’s defensive tackle position. Both were overlooked. Neither one of them cared.

While the comparison the Aaron Donald is fun to think about, it’s ultimately unfair to Kancey. He’s got enough on his plate coming into the NFL. His maturity speaks to his ability to keep the focus on trying to be better for himself, AS himself.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a smart move by selecting Calijah Kancey in the 2023 NFL Draft. Kancey's impressive college career and similarities to fellow Pitt alumni Aaron Donald make him a promising addition to the Buccaneers' defense. If Kancey can continue to improve and develop his skills at the NFL level, he has the potential to become one of the league's top defensive players.

More importantly, Kancey will have the chance to play next to one of the league’s already top players in Vita Vea. While individual talent is excellent, it usually doesn’t mean much if it’s on an island without help. Next to Vea, and along with the other strong talent like Lavonte David, Tryon-Shoyinka, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Carlton Davis, Kancey will have a chance to grow into his talent and be part of a good defense rather than being forced to play at a max level early and actually BE the defense like we’ve seen from before in Tampa when the talent was scarce.

Kancey landed in a perfect spot to meet his potential. Going by his demeanor immediately after the draft, it’s hard to imagine he won’t meet and/or exceed expectations.