New Bucs Defensive End Felt Connected
May 1st, 2018
New Bucs DE Demone Harris
Remember Bucs defensive end Steven Means? The Tampa Bay 2015 fifth-round pick will soon receive his Eagles Super Bowl ring.
He’s one of three ex-Bucs who were atop the NFL world with the Eagles in February.
Means came to Tampa via the University of Buffalo. Per Joe’s last chat with Means, he was close friends with his college teammate, Pro Bowl Raiders DE Khalil Mack.
So has Buffalo become an NCAA breeding ground for pass rushers? The Bucs certainly hope so.
A defensive end the Bucs just signed as an undrafted free agent, Demone Harris, is out of that school and he’s got a heck of a story. Harris started just eight games in high school.
He was late to the football party but became a walk-on at Buffalo, then a redshirt and then started his final three seasons.
Harris, 6-4, 272 pounds, told the Buffalo News that he had expectations of getting drafted but instead had teams angling for him when the draft ended. He liked that the Bucs didn’t draft a defensive end and he made the call for Tampa.
That [Pro Day] performance was in front of Buccaneers scout Andre Forde, a former UB receiver. Harris didn’t know at the time Forde is a former Bull, but came away from their conversation feeling like the Buccaneers could be a home.
“They seemed like they really wanted me,” he said. “I had a couple other offers from different teams. The Giants, Lions and Broncos were interested, but after talking with the Tampa Bay scout, I felt like I wanted to be there. I think I was one of the first free agents to sign after the draft.”
Harris expects to play 4-3 defensive end for the Buccaneers, the same job he held with the Bulls.
Harris also told a local Buffalo TV station that he had a cash offer from Tampa Bay before the draft was over.
Look, Joe doesn’t drool over undrafted players, but Joe does drool at the thought of having an edge pass rush. Finally! Anyone in position to help has Joe’s attention.
Harris certainly fits the Jason Licht desire to bring in guys lacking the “five-star virus,” referring to his desire to find players who are used to grinding their way up the ladder.
May 1st, 2018 at 1:37 pm
Another in a LONG list of “blah” edge rushers under the dominik/licht regime
May 1st, 2018 at 1:40 pm
Looking at his highlights, he shows tons of upside and promise. His only issues would be cracking the lineup but it shouldn’t be that hard when he’s battling with gholston
May 1st, 2018 at 1:41 pm
How many tackles did means have this year? 2?
May 1st, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Love this under the radar project player. Cam Brate anyone?
Plus the culture he is coming out of is one of excellence for DEs.
Point is, he will be and likely IS highly motivated to play with guys like JPP, Curry and of course GMC. He IS likely motivated to represent his university as Mack and Means have done.
Bonus factor. He has a great first name and legendary last name for and in this league.
Don’t sleep on Big Will G either.
Our DL is HUUUUUUUGGGGGEEEE…
CAN’T WIAT
May 1st, 2018 at 2:01 pm
Outside of Spence we still need DE depth. I’ve mostly given up of any thought of Gholston turning into a decent pass rusher, we need more guys behind JPP and Curry who can collapse the pocket from the outside.
May 1st, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Webster he has a Super Bowl ring and I assume you don’t. And he had 2 more tackles then you. In all likelihood he outearned you (he made $955,000) and you are poking fun at him?
May 1st, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Hope it works out and he makes the team. DE position is still pretty thin.
May 1st, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Is there some reason Gholston couldn’t add some weight and play DT. He’s a terrible DE, but would be good at DT.
May 1st, 2018 at 2:08 pm
I long rookie long shots and wish them all the best…catch the coaches attention in camp…make plays in preseason…be good enough bump the player ahead of you on the depth chart….be ready…
May 1st, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Scbucsfan… savage
May 1st, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Finally. A DE. I’m happy now
May 1st, 2018 at 2:22 pm
Gholston isn’t going anywhere….his $6.5 mil is guaranteed…..
And, Bucs coaches haven’t proven they can develop a young DE yet…..(Spence’s injuries should be blamed on coaches)…..Maybe this guy can punt. (Extreme Sarcasm)
May 1st, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Great story Joe!!! Love the way you came into it with the “UB as the newest passrush U” angle.
So here’s what I came away from this excellent article with.
This franchise is finally operating like a professional team should.
Jason has his desired scouting/directing team assembled how he wants it now coming into year 5. And this entire scouting team is doing a great job of identifying needs – finding the best fits for those needs – and then doing what’s necessary to acquire those “best fits”.
This DE Harris UDFA acquisition and how it came about is just another example of Licht and his team doing all they can to “cover all the bases”.
This year’s crop of DEs as a whole was pitiful. So instead of drafting one – we took fliers on a promising WR and LB with late picks instead – hoping to find a true diamond in the rough. But that doesn’t mean we don’t need a young DE or 2 coming into our current situation to compete.
So Jason and his NE scout did exactly what was needed to get this obviously promising UDFA prospect. They played the “relationship” angle to a “T” – and then backed it up with a nice cash offer to ensure this guy THEY wanted would WANT to come to Tampa Bay.
Good Job to Jason Licht and his team this off season. NE scout Andre Ford obviously deserves a major hat tip in this particular instance for developing such a great relationship with this kid. Way to play the Jerry Maguire angle Buccaneers. Relationships really do matter.
May 1st, 2018 at 2:39 pm
Would be really nice to find a decent Edgerusher off the undrafted list. Noticed that we did pick up 3 DEs off college free agency.
May 1st, 2018 at 2:54 pm
as long as he has parental supevision on the 4th….
May 1st, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Why do U have a former wideout scouting a DE?
Send Sapp up there to sort him out
Get Indians tracking Indians
May 1st, 2018 at 3:05 pm
Daniel Says:
May 1st, 2018 at 2:08 pm
Is there some reason Gholston couldn’t add some weight and play DT. He’s a terrible DE, but would be good at DT.
great question…..ive been pounding the desk for him to be a DT for the past 3 years…..tell him to add 15 pounds and kick him inside…..make sense to me….his strength is stuffing the run….not rushing the passer…..
he must some dirty pics of one of the glazer boys….lol…
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
May 1st, 2018 at 3:06 pm
lets see if buckner can get something out of him…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
May 1st, 2018 at 3:41 pm
Buckner is going to have the best meeting rooms on Wednesdays …. in the halls loud …
May 1st, 2018 at 3:54 pm
With McCoy and Vea in the middle, DE’s are going to gobble up sacks just by the QB trying to scramble out side the pocket.
May 1st, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Steven means well
But he just wasn’t that good.
May 1st, 2018 at 4:44 pm
This Evan Perizzo from Minn St. is supposed to have a big upside as well. Had 18 tackles or a loss and 12 sacks this season. 44 TFL and 27 sacks total. Same school as Theilen, and Chris Reed. Signed him.
May 2nd, 2018 at 4:11 am
@Daniel
You nailed it. Gholston should have more snaps at DT. He is MEAN!!!
I wish we had drafted Arden Key.
On another note,
Can we please run some 5-2 this year?
Vea at NT
Allen at DT
Unrein at DT
GMC at DE
Ghoston at DE
Line those 5 guys up sometimes and just let them BEAT DOWN their o-line man 1 on 1.