Presence felt in 2016.

Talk to Bucs types about middle linebacker Kwon Alexander and it takes but a quick second for them to break out into smiles.

Bucs suits and coaches like to refer to Alexander as the “Jameis of the defense.” If you knew just how much the Bucs are in love with Jameis, then that should tell you how much they think of Alexander.

One reason the Bucs call Alexander the “Jameis of the defense” is the guy’s relentless pursuit of making himself the best he can be. He regularly arrives for practice way before he is supposed to so he can sit down with defensive coordinator Mike Smith and pick his brain for more wisdom. Smith is only too happy to oblige.

Of course, like Jameis, Alexander brings an unbridled passion for football to both the building and practice. Others feed off that. But it may not just be the intangibles that make Alexander so important. That is, if you believe the PFF tribe.

Per their charting, no inside linebacker in the NFC South had as many stops last year as Alexander. Now to be fair, warrior Luke Kuechly of the Stinking Panthers missed the last six games of the season due to a nasty concussion.

Still, that’s impressive to see what Alexander did in just his second season as a starter, and first with Smith as coordinator.