Evan Landi Likely To Get “A Shot”
May 5th, 2013
Just like in business, it’s good to network in football.
Former South Florida tight end Evan Landi and Bucs coach Greg Schiano go back a ways. Landi attended Schiano’s summer camps when Schiano ran the Scarlet Knights program at Rutgers.
Then, Schiano’s squads would have to face the Bulls and Landi annually. So when the Bucs began signing undrafted free agents last week, Landi was already on Schiano’s radar.
“I go way back with Evan,” Schiano said. “I was always a fan of his. He kind of does everything. I think he’s got potential.”
Landi does pretty much do everything. He was offered a professional hockey contract coming out of high school but decided to stay with football. A quarterback at Coral Gables High School, Landi was converted to a tight end at South Florida. In his final game with the Bulls against Pittsburgh, Landi ran the ball, caught a pass and threw a completion.
Now Joe doesn’t expect Landi to see a whole lot of playing time if he makes the final 53-man roster, an uphill battle for any undrafted free agent.
If somehow Landi does make the final cut, Joe sees Landi as being a special teams handyman, being able to do all sorts of things given his athletic versatility.
May 5th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
And why is this news???
May 5th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Hockey? And tight end?
I would try him at fullback too. Wouldn’t be the first time a TE moved to FB. And he’s use to hitting 😉
May 5th, 2013 at 12:35 pm
they just signed WR Chris Denton from rookie sqiad
May 5th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
Longshot. Nice feel good story though.
May 5th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
CB Brenden Smith just signed
May 5th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Really surprised this kid wasn’t a later round pick…seemed to do all that was asked of him in a struggling pass offense with a mediocre line.good blocking skills and decent with his hands.landi feels home in tampa in his home stadium.hopefully he’ll get a shot to fulfill that dream of walking onto that field in red and pewter instead of green and gold
May 5th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
He was better before Skip got there. Seems a popular theme of the Holts nee era.
May 5th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
After watching highlights of this guy I am impressed
May 5th, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Why does everybody want to convert tweeners, re:Lorig, to a fullback?
If we want a real fulback, then get a real fullback.
May 5th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
MikeInT2,
I get the signing of Chris Denton as he was one of the players invited to attend rookie mini-camp on a tryout basis. But Branden Smith, along with 12 other UDFAs signed his contract last Monday. Not doubting your report, just trying to keep up with whose on first in the absence of any official Buc release, which they usually take their time with.
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/bucs-add-13-undrafted-free-agents/2118119
May 5th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Looks pretty good……catches ball well in traffic….good hands….can get open. Go Golden Brahmans/Bulls!!!
May 5th, 2013 at 11:34 pm
He is more of a WR with good blocking ability than a TE to me.
May 6th, 2013 at 10:45 am
He looks like a slower version of Aaron Hernandez.