Zyon McCollum Says He’s Ready To Play Receiver
July 26th, 2024
Ira Kaufman Podcast listeners already heard about this stunner, but now Joe will bring the exact quotes from Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum.
So Joe was hanging with McCollum this week and chatted about his offseason workouts with his twin brother, Eagles defensive back Tristin McCollum.
They battle each other 1-on-1 relentlessly, with each guy taking turns as a receiver pressing the other’s weaknesses they know so well. Zyon McCollum said he and his brother take an All-Pro receiver mindset into the drills and incorporate all the nuances of the league’s best pass catchers when pushing each other.
“I know every single move that a receiver could make at the line of scrimmage, Zyon McCollum said before quickly rattling off a flurry of potential receiver moves. “When I know all the releases that a receiver can give, it allows me to be more patient and sit on a lot of these releases.”
Of course, that led Joe to ask Zyon McCollum if he could play receiver for the Bucs.
“100 percent I could play receiver,” McCollum said. “You know, I think of myself as an athlete. My daddy played in the NBA and we have a family full of athletes.”
The third-year player added that Bucs coaches have never approached him about being an emergency receiver and he hasn’t broached the subject. “I’ve never told anybody, but maybe I should,” McCollum said.
Joe absolutely thinks the Bucs should find at least a few plays for McCollum in the offense. Just in case.
Frankly, it would be a move of a coaching staff that takes nothing for granted, kind of like how Bucco Bruce Arians had Pat McAfee as his emergency quarterback in Indianapolis.
Injuries can pile up and weird things can happen late in a season. You never know when you’re turning to Cyril Grayson to help you be the top seed in the NFC.
July 26th, 2024 at 12:20 am
Is 6′ 2″, runs a 4.33 40, and has a 40-inch vertical. Also graded elite in the agility drills. He’s the true definition of an ATH in the college football games.
For reference, Palmer is 6′ 0″, also ran a 4.33 40, has a 30-inch vertical (10″ less, wow), and is only graded OK with the agility scores.
That’s something. Maybe give him a few snaps behind Palmer just in case of injury since he can step in and stretch the field.
Of course as a #3 corner, that is something you could mess around with a little if you wanted to. But as a starter, I doubt they’d do anything ‘risky’ or ‘fun’ or ‘not boring’ – so we’ll never see it.
July 26th, 2024 at 2:35 am
Slash?
July 26th, 2024 at 2:43 am
Remember Roy Green of the Cardinals all those years ago? Started as CB, played both but ended up as an all pro receiver. You never know.
July 26th, 2024 at 5:04 am
All in on Zyon McCollum. This could be his breakout season.
July 26th, 2024 at 6:22 am
In preseason for fun a few snaps at WR probably wouldn’t hurt. Let’s be honest is he really even that important for this team long term. He’s an athletic freak and can dominate anywhere it seems. I could honestly see him gaining weight, and playing S in a couple years tbh.
He’d really have to work on his tackling and muscle mass though. He’d probably also lose and sacrifice some of the speed by gaining weight and keeping it on. He also could be a much better player and could potentially in turn become a pro bowler. I mean why not? He’s currently an average CB.
July 26th, 2024 at 6:45 am
“My daddy played in the NBA and we have a family full of athletes”
Subtle boast. I think he can hit that 6 INT goal he’s gotten for himself especially playing in one spot and it’s not like opponents are going to pick on Dean over Zyon, so the opportunities should be there until he makes them second guess.
July 26th, 2024 at 8:56 am
Sooooo…how many interceptions does he have exactly to date? He needs to focus on being a starting CB first.
July 26th, 2024 at 9:13 am
Yeah, when I read the headline I said to myself, “good, then you should have no problems stacking up INTs”.
There’s a reason these guys are DBs and not receivers. Otherwise, Mayfield and pretty much every QB would have a whole lot more passes picked off every season.
July 26th, 2024 at 10:25 am
Zyon ought to play a season as a starter first.
No shortage of ego!
July 26th, 2024 at 10:43 am
No
July 26th, 2024 at 11:11 am
Zyon played the 2nd most snaps out of all of our DBs last season and 4th most on the entire defense behind David, Winfield, & White. More than starters Ryan Neal, Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis and still held his position down as a gunner on special teams.
July 26th, 2024 at 11:18 am
Let’s stay focused on being a starting cornerback for the first time
July 26th, 2024 at 12:43 pm
I would provide a link because this is truly worth viewing but links make Joe’s legal software freak out and toss you into moderation.
Sooo simply google yourself. Go to youtube and type in Zyon McCollum highlights. You’ll get a couple but there is a 4;20 clip put together that shows just what a budding star McCollum is. Yep like others around him he drops a couple of picks but OTOH he’s in position for those picks and gets a LOT of breakups.
But aside from his athletic skills at the CB position watch how he hits like a safety. He is fearless and he tackle RB’s just as readily as a tiny WR. He tackles great on special teams. He is the perfect complement to Whitehead and Winfield. 3 guys who are not shy about looking for a BIG HIT!!!
This Bucs team has the chance to be physical! Isn’t that the greatest? Again I go to Ahnold as Conan the Barbarian…”What is best in life? Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.”
This edition of the Bucs has added some guys on both sides of the all with serious ‘tude”.
July 26th, 2024 at 12:59 pm
I remember at least one, very athletic interception that was taken away by an off ball holding penalty
July 26th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
He really has one job. CB.. and we have him where and it’s his time where/why? He will be there, and I hope he does get a few int’s and all the rest just flows, we need that. Let’s Go!! Come on got some work to do now. And a lot to learn. Fact or Fantasy when we are waiting for the opening kickoff at the Superbowl, as long as something Mike said the other day, this team is better than last year. Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
July 26th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
We have plenty of good receivers. It’s yet to be determined that we have 2 good CBs. Cool your jets, Zyon, just do your job well.
July 26th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
‘It’s yet to be determined that we have two good cornerbacks’.
Ten four that brother, ten four that.
July 26th, 2024 at 7:19 pm
Hey Joe what we hearing about the former Jets CB Bryce Hall
July 26th, 2024 at 8:45 pm
Jack Burton Mercer Says:
July 26th, 2024 at 2:43 am
Remember Roy Green of the Cardinals all those years ago? Started as CB, played both but ended up as an all pro receiver. You never know.
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Todd Bowles is the head coach, and this could be considered ‘fun’, so we know it will never happen.
July 26th, 2024 at 8:47 pm
Irishmist Says:
July 26th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
We have plenty of good receivers. It’s yet to be determined that we have 2 good CBs. Cool your jets, Zyon, just do your job well.
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What about running in a straight line is so complex that you can’t have him run a few routes to stretch the field in case of an injury?
It’s amazing the number of dullards out there that think people can’t ever do more than one thing.
Not to worry in any case, Todd Bowles thinks like you – he’s no fun, boring, a dullard – so you won’t see this happen.