Calijah Kancey “Stunned” Bucs Selected Him
April 27th, 2023
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey on a Zoom call with Tampa Bay media.
So new Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey had a major curveball thrown at him by the Bucs tonight.
Kancey — who went to the same high school that produced Lavonte David — was at home in Miami with his family watching the draft when he got a call from the Bucs to welcome him to Tampa Bay.
He was “stunned” Bucs picked him, despite Kancey saying he expected to be drafted in the first round. Since the combine, Kancey had very little interaction with the Bucs, he said, though his meetings with the team in Indianapolis went very well.
When asked about playing for a defensive guru like Bucs coach Todd Bowles, Kancey confessed he’s had little communication or dealings with Bowles. It almost sounds like to Joe that the Bucs had targeted someone else and the way the draft unfolded, they couldn’t trade out of No. 19.
Still, Licht raved about how Kancey is so mature and such a hard worker. Licht compared his personality to David.
The 19th pick in the 2023 @NFLDraft…
The Tampa Bay @Buccaneers select…
Pitt's Calijah Kancey! @CKancey8
April 27-29 📺 NFLN/ESPN/ABC#H2P » @NFLDraft » @NFL pic.twitter.com/Pa5fC1W08Q
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) April 28, 2023
April 27th, 2023 at 11:15 pm
Dudes a freak.. him, vita, hall, Gaines, and hopefully Will G is a SOLID interior line
April 27th, 2023 at 11:16 pm
Kid was thinking
“ Im obviously a 4-3 DT. Those idiots are a 3-4 defense. Why would they draft me??”
April 27th, 2023 at 11:16 pm
Stunned is better than pissed.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:16 pm
Well at least they didn’t draft Levis or Hooker. I was expecting Harrison at LT.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:17 pm
Joe hit the nail on the head, they had no idea what to do, another wasted pick, can believe that some of these people stand behind Jason , When will we learn not to trust this guy.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:19 pm
lol. He looks stunned.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:20 pm
Welcome to the Bucs Calijah Kancey.
Bucs defense can now actually shut the door on third downs thanks to having Kancey on the roster.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:20 pm
Yeah Captain, that’s probably what he was thinking. Listen, you don’t need to like the pick. But why not root for the guy since he’s on supposedly your team? Or… You can let it eat at you and b!tch and moan until he produces. Who would you have picked at 19 with what was left on the board? Curious.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:22 pm
Welcome to Tampa Bay young Buc!
April 27th, 2023 at 11:22 pm
If this was the guy all along man there was no one better at smokescreens in recent memory. Even if he wasn’t the d tackle picked very few expected bucs to address this position in the first round
April 27th, 2023 at 11:23 pm
Well, they were pretty quick in turning in thd puck so I’m pretty confident Jason knew what he was doing.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:24 pm
Bobby Corbin I rarely say this to anyone, because I’m a nice guy and generally polite… But you’re a moron. Did you celebrate the Bucs Super Bowl? Doesn’t happen without Jason Licht. So you can go to Cleveland and enjoy mediocrity my man! Glad we got Licht here in TAMPA BAY!
April 27th, 2023 at 11:27 pm
PFF says: He might be undersized, but Kancey is a phenomenal pass-rusher on the interior of the defensive line. His first step is elite, and he’s coming off a season where he led all players at the position with a 92.4 PFF pass-rushing grade and should make an immediate impact as a pass-rusher.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:28 pm
Steven007,
I would have picked O’Cyrus Torrence.
6’6’. 330 lbs with nimble feet.
Has played both guards-and RT.
I think he would be a great RT
April 27th, 2023 at 11:28 pm
Of course he was stunned. This was not a good pick. Sh!t, the Bucs could’ve made an STD as their pick, and everyone would’ve cheered for the insanity. It’s just stupid and it’s embarrassing that anyone would admit that this was a great pick. Wake up.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:28 pm
Mr honey bear , enjoy losing all year, oh wait , we play a 3-4 defense, not a 4-3, makes perfect sense to me.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:29 pm
I’m certain the Bucs were gonna take Jahmyr Gibbs but had to shuffle going defense since nobody else was worthy not wanting to take a WR or S( QB was definitely out of the question)
April 27th, 2023 at 11:30 pm
Dungy was the HC by default, Alstott was also an unexpected pick so sometimes Lady Luck smiles on you even when you think things didn’t go as planned. There was a slew of WRs before Bucs picked and other teams knew Bucs were not picking a receiver so they had no trade partners.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:30 pm
Scotty’s Right.
It was seconds. Joe is Wrong. So is the other dude who thinks he knows everything and is talking out of the side of his face…
He maybe surprised but with in seconds, we shouldn’t be
April 27th, 2023 at 11:30 pm
there was not much good for us lotsa wideouts were on the board, this guy was the BPA at the time of this pick for us. lets be glad we are not dealing with a Levis pick right now.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:31 pm
Maybe we plan to shop VV?
April 27th, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Welcome to Tampa Bay Calijah Kancy we need you and we need those tackles in the backfield that you specialize in!
April 27th, 2023 at 11:33 pm
QB should’ve been the pick, considering the 2 QB’s who were still on the board and the 2 QB’s currently on our roster. his was a luxury pick when we had need(s) elsewhere.
What clown is making the decisions at One Buc lately?
This team is a clownshow ever since BA retired.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:34 pm
The Bucs could have been targeting one of the OT or RB that went early, Pitt traded up to 14 to grab that OT in the Pats spot and Bucs probably did not have the juice to move up that far. Also the high end edge rushers were off the board. Licht took the best available player though their were 2 TE on the board. The OT from the Sooners was an option but the Jags just grabbed him. I guess we just have to trust in Licht, hopefully this kid is a monster. Day 2: TE and OL?
April 27th, 2023 at 11:35 pm
*this was a luxury pick, but hopefully he’s a game-wrecker even though he’s a 4-3 DT and we run a 3-4… SMH
April 27th, 2023 at 11:37 pm
Sometimes, they may not project their interest if they really like a guy and don’t want someone to jump up in front. Having a top 30 often doesn’t indicate your favorites. If you’re already sold, don’t waste the visit on a player you already have all the info you need.
I doubt this was a case of not getting the guy they wanted and failing to find a trade back.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:37 pm
I would have done this, or I would have done that …….
In 3 years we will know for sure what happened.
Like I said, O line or D Line, you build from the trenches, wether people think it is sexy or not. Football is always about who controls the line of scrimmage and a QB that is not terrible.
The Bucs owned the line of scrimmage 2019-2021, but last year they got beat up front on both sides of the ball way too much, and the losing record is exhibit A.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:38 pm
We should’ve Devin White (and still should) if we had someone else targeted that went earlier.
Devin white is going to get booed out of the stadium every single time they call his name next season if he stays here. He needs to get bounced ASAP
April 27th, 2023 at 11:38 pm
*traded
April 27th, 2023 at 11:39 pm
Don’t see a starting LT. Wirfs goes to LT and either take a RT or go with Goedeke at RT.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:40 pm
Good point on Torrence Capt Tim but it seems a lot of people are weary of drafting Gators, who knows, maybe Licht listened to Todd Wright and his rant on the how Gators fared in the NFL earlier this week here on JBF…… Seems like OL was the need and maybe Licht could not get a partner to trade down so he just took the highest guy on their board, it fills a need but so would OL, TE and RB.. Hopefully he has someone in mind with pick #50/19th in the 2nd round tomorrow….
April 27th, 2023 at 11:40 pm
The reactionary negativity is so predictable. Jeezus, this guy is a stud, even if he’s undersized. Aaron Donald has also played in a 3-4, so a guy his size can do it.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:41 pm
5 feet 11 inches
280 pound
Stupid wasted pick, 3 years in a row
April 27th, 2023 at 11:41 pm
Captain, I like him too. I have the draft on in the background now and haven’t heard his name called so he may be available day two. Plus, with rare exception, we almost never pick offensive lineman in the first round. Tristan being an obvious exception. Lots more draft to go.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:43 pm
Captain, he actually measured in at 6’1 at the combine. Taller than expected. Not that that’s the biggest thing. Anyways. Elvis dumerville put together a nice career at 5:11. But this kid is literally the exact same size as Aaron. Donald. Obviously we have no idea how well he’ll play at this point, but his college career was very good. But if it makes you feel good to continue moaning about the pick, you’re obviously free to do so.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:45 pm
The people saying we should’ve drafted a QB at 19 what QB? Will Levi is trash an him an every other QB left have 2nd rd grades but yea let’s teach for a QB at 19🤣🤣🤣
April 27th, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Reach*
April 27th, 2023 at 11:48 pm
He’s stunned because he’s a 4-3 DT, and he’s looking at the Bucs defense and see’s it’s a 3-4, and if he’s supposed to be a DE in a 3-4, he knows that is going to cost him many millions.
Don’t worry kid, when Bowles is gone next year, the Bucs can switch to a 4-3, and if you’re really the next Aaron Donald, you’ll get your money.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:50 pm
I think we all were stunned the Bucs selected him.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:56 pm
Don’t worry kid, when Bowles is gone next year, the Bucs can switch to a 4-3, and if you’re really the next Aaron Donald, you’ll get your money.
Would be nice for this to work out like that, and also Bowles cannot leave soon enough.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:57 pm
@capt tim
You don’t like the pick but you don’t have to resort to telling lies.
He’s 6’1 281.
Aaron Donald is 6’1 280.
John Randle was 6’1 290.
April 27th, 2023 at 11:58 pm
Would have been much happier with Nolan Smith , good character guy with high motor, guess time will tell , who is a better pick.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:01 am
I liked him before I listened to our draft guru. Now I’m worried.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:02 am
Haha kinda funny how everyone is now second guessing a GM that has been here 10 years and put together a super bowl roster. Where were you people when the GM was picking a kicker in the second round. Pretty sure at this point the GM knows what he is doing. This seasons probably lost anyways with this clown show of a coaching staff.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:02 am
DingleBerry Says:
April 27th, 2023 at 11:57 pm
@capt tim
You don’t like the pick but you don’t have to resort to telling lies.
He’s 6’1 281.
Aaron Donald is 6’1 280.
John Randle was 6’1 290.
————
WaPo, April 17, 1995
“And with Sapp, there are two glitches. One is that he’s a little shorter (6 feet 1) and a little lighter (281 pounds) than most teams would want in a prototypical defensive tackle.”
April 28th, 2023 at 12:03 am
Who?
April 28th, 2023 at 12:03 am
I have less confidence than ever in Bowles/Licht… do they not see allllll the other needs this team has?
You just drafted this position last year. So are you declaring Logan Hall a bust after one year?
It just reminds me so much of bad Bucs teams drafting and staying bad.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:05 am
Rod, Aaron Donald doesn’t even play in a 4-3. Stop the nonsense you’re embarrassing yourself
April 28th, 2023 at 12:07 am
Reading the rest of that 1995 story on Sapp, they had a fun mention at the very end of the story, about this guy you might have heard of…
“Another Miami defensive lineman, Dwayne Johnson, might also be drafted. Johnson’s father, Rocky, shared the World Wrestling Federation tag team title in 1984. His uncle Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka is apparently one of pro wrestling’s top aerial artists. Two other uncles, Afa and Sika, held the WWF tag team title four times. Two cousins wrestle together as the “Headshrinkers.” Mamula is rising as fast as anyone on draft boards. He is only 248 pounds, but Dallas’s Charles Haley is only 250 and strikes fear in opponents because of tenacity and speed. “
April 28th, 2023 at 12:08 am
Capt.Tim Says :
“5 feet 11 inches
280 pound
Stupid wasted pick, 3 years in a row”
I’m with you Timmy….Licht’s just horrible in early rounds as usual.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:09 am
Bobby Corbin – get the Licht slander out of here it’s uncalled for. The man put together a Super Bowl roster. Before he got here we were known as Cleveland of the South. You gotta be drinking to have a take like that, lay off the bottle and root for your team
April 28th, 2023 at 12:10 am
Statguy – If he IS Aaron Donald, he can play anywhere. However I’m not putting him into the HOF just yet.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:10 am
Times like these are when the morons self – identify. Read above – those who wanted a splash skill player or a known big school OT are showing their arses to the whole site.
Those who understand football, by at least 2-to-1 in the majority, like the selection. And obviously the pros who built a SB roster love it.
So, you nancies should put your genitalia back into their container and find your binky. Jason is just getting warmed up.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:11 am
He is NOT 5’11”
What a bunch of unintelligent whiny babies.
This guy is a stud!
Athletic freak who ran the best 40 as a DT in the last 20 years.
Wake up and realize how special he is!
Now if Darnell Washington just falls we will be cooking.
Philly is the luckiest team I have ever seen.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:12 am
He was the first pick that didn’t smile orcelebrate right away. Must of forgot he just became a millionaire playing the game he loves.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:13 am
He was stunned because he wasn’t suppose to be drafted till the second day, but Yucs being Yucs.. 6’1 280 and let’s hope he can all three snaps unlike Vea and others .., no pass rush, OL, safety, shut down corner.. what should we expect with Jason, the Glazers, and Bowel movement running the ship into the ground
April 28th, 2023 at 12:14 am
Goatfarmer Says: “Jason is just getting warmed up.”
So was Roberto Aguayo…next up 2nd round.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:14 am
Infomeplease Says:
April 28th, 2023 at 12:12 am
He was the first pick that didn’t smile orcelebrate right away. Must of forgot he just became a millionaire playing the game he loves.
———–
Good, I can’t stand all these stupid millennials and Gen Z who jump up and down and have to be surrounded by 100 hanger ons who are going to bleed them dry. The more I see and read about the kid, the more I’m sold he’s a great pick.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:16 am
They are going to get creative with this guy and Hall, move them inside and outside. Think they’ll look more like a 3-4 / 4-3 hybrid which could add an element of confusion when facing us. He’s a fierce run defender. His quickness is insane.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:16 am
As posted above…
Warren Sapp, draft profile: 6′ 1″ 281
Put the kid in the HOF, he’s an EXACT match!
April 28th, 2023 at 12:19 am
Remember folks this is the same clown…Licht… that gave you JTS.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:19 am
I see some don’t like it but I’m really excited about this pick they needed to improve the pass rush this guy does it, him next to vita is going to be so entertaining to watch. Go bucs
April 28th, 2023 at 12:22 am
This was Our defensive head coach getting the first pick, and our next pick will be an offensive player, and then Defense, and then offense. They gotta keep it fair for everyone! 😉
April 28th, 2023 at 12:24 am
1987 — the clown is the headcoich through no fault of JL.
JL brought us BA, without whom we don’t get TB — but it wasn’t just BA it was also the weaponry and the defensive personnel that JL brought in. Then the magnet that was Barady (a known benefit to signing him) and then a Super Bowl.
But you’d probably rather go back to the glory days of 1987, when you could look forward to 9 more years of losing seasons.
Maroon. Give O’squeeler a call. He might have room on the Village Maroon oversight board.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:26 am
All you geniuses that think they were stumped, look how quick they got the pick in. Lol.
This was their guy and koodos for hiding it from you world class sleuths.
And please for all you who think it was terrible tell me who they should have picked?
April 28th, 2023 at 12:26 am
Yucs2Bucs
Kancey is literally an interior pass rusher.
Go watch his tape and you’ll see it quite easily for yourself.
1987
Mike Evans, Vita Vea, Devin White, Tristan Wirfs, Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Chris Godwin, Ronald Jones, Carlton Davis, Mike Edwards Antoine Winfield JR, SMB and Jamel Dean. All Day 1 and 2 picks that played vital roles in helping us win the Super Bowl a mere 3 years ago.
Licht has absolutely made some mistakes and bad picks. But he’s made some excellent picks as well. I have a feeling Kancey is going to be one of the excellent picks.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:31 am
Yucs2Bucs — you must not do much research on these players, t=rather just play with yourself and the simulators. One of those actually has Bryce Young falling to 19. Very realistic.
50% of first round picks bust. Recently Polian said that the very best get about 60% of them correct.
Licht has done damn well and is easily in the top 10 of league GMs. A super bowl win doesn’t do anything for you obviously. That is sad.
Things are certainly dimmed given the headcoich JL has been stuck with, but that’s fixable either by (a) JL having an epiphany performance review with the Toadster, or (b) replacing him with his own selection (like BA was) after the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, try Thorazine. It’s apparently still available as a treatment for bad hiccups, but does a lot more to dull your senses.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:31 am
Dingle — spot on, brother!
April 28th, 2023 at 12:32 am
We just drafted arguably the twitchiest IDL in this entire draft class and y’all aren in here calling him a waste, useless, trying to pigeon hole him as being made for a particular to make it sound like you know better than the actually front office that does this for a living.
Believe or not, there were likely more than 1 team that said if he’s available he’s “there guy”, Licht didn’t tell him sh*t lol win. Kancey can play on any front that allows him to 1-gap right away, and I’d bring blitzes right behind him while Vita occupied the A&B on the other side. Either OLB could sink into coverage or be the fifth man and keep white/David home. We can do a lot with Kancey, on and we already run hybridized 3-4/4-3 points, so there’s really nothing to “switch” to
April 28th, 2023 at 12:33 am
Everybody complaining . Bucs just got a steal . Got the next Aaron Donald . Go ahead and double Vea . This gonna be SCARY interior line .
April 28th, 2023 at 12:33 am
Goatframer….Jason Licht is a worse Gm than Bowles is a HC.
Got lucky when Brady stumbled upon the Bucs…now what? He’s a genius.
Pipe down and watch how all this pans out Jason Licht fan.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:34 am
If you can’t get excited about this guy lined up beside Vea then I feel sorry for you. He improves our pass rush and run D. Nolan Smith would’ve been nice but this kid has real talent.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:37 am
You want me to at 1230 in the am name all the bad picks Licht;s made….I won’t do it….see me in the morning…
April 28th, 2023 at 12:38 am
Yucs2bucs what is Aaron Donalds Hgt. Wgt .?
April 28th, 2023 at 12:40 am
I like the pick. He is a gamewrecker. I believe we passed on Aaron Donald. You don’t make that mistake twice
April 28th, 2023 at 12:42 am
I’m surprised we took Kancey but I’m ok with it. I thought we would’ve taken Harrison or the TE Mayer but I’m also glad we didn’t take Levis or Hooker.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:55 am
I’m well aware of the bad picks 1987. But there isn’t a GM in the history of the NFL that never missed on a pick.
The fact of the matter is that Licht has made many good picks and built the roster that brought Bruce Arians out of retirement and attracted Tom Brady.
He has proven himself capable of building a Super Bowl caliber roster, because he’s done it. And I’m confident he can do it again.
April 28th, 2023 at 1:01 am
Bucs defense plays Nickle 70 percent of the time so he will play a lot people need to stop talking about a 3-4 defense plus he’s light up at the End as well in college
April 28th, 2023 at 1:02 am
Liked this pick. Kid has great burst of the line his hands are awesome. Yeah we run a 3-4 but we need a guy like him on 3rd downs when 90% of the time we’ll be in a nickel defense depending on the distance. He should get a lot of one on ones with Vite next to him. From the tape he dominated one on ones.
Yeah I wanted an O linemen but hey we need more guys to get the QB without having to blitz so much… Size doesn’t matter. If your a baller your gonna ball period so please stop complaining about his size.
Let’s stop talking about safety’s I like the dude we got from Seattle should be a gem next to Winfield. Not saying we shouldn’t draft one cuz I know we will. But isn’t priority for the second round. OLiNE!! OLiNE!!! OLiNE!!! With our next pick.
April 28th, 2023 at 1:17 am
1987 you need to watch some of Voch Lombardi you tube video he watches tape and shows you off & defense lineman tells you who is good and who is not and he very good at it and said he does not like Ocyruss Torrence at all . The information is out there just see what all experts are saying our draft pick was a predictable 1st rd pick occurs not even do some research !
April 28th, 2023 at 1:37 am
Yep, you hit it right Joe. I do believe the Bucs had targeted another player who was picked. And nobody wanted to trade with the, or give them another pick worthy of what they wanted. They still had a shot at another tackle though. But thats the problem with being a fan, Your team never chooses who You want them to on many occasions. They did get a decent DT though.
April 28th, 2023 at 2:32 am
These dense fans sound just like the ones who said Sapp was too small to hold up inside on the DLine. There is going to be plenty of crow to be eaten in the next year or two. That is few who are honest and willing to admit how wrong to be disappointed in this pick.
April 28th, 2023 at 2:35 am
1987 — Super Bowl, then two consecutive division titles, three playoff appearances in a row, securing Brady and the roster to win back to back Lombardis (sadly derailed by a bloweszo who doesn’t deserve the job he has but Licht is stuck with for now) — you would rather go back to the Mark Dumpsternik days, I suppose. You’re one of those tards for whom results don’t mean anything, apparently.
April 28th, 2023 at 3:23 am
Love this pick! Whether the the Bucs targeted this guy or not I predict he will prove to be a “brilliant” pick in, say, three years. They did their “due diligence”. 😋 😎
April 28th, 2023 at 3:42 am
P.S. Though Todd Bowles defense starts from a 3-4 base it is actually a hybrid and defies categorization to a large degree. Chew on that y’all!
Go Bucs!
April 28th, 2023 at 6:44 am
Warren Sapp’s draft day photo was a bit “stunned” too!!! That worked out pretty pretty pretty good!
April 28th, 2023 at 7:20 am
They way the board broke, what’s not to like about this pick? The fact of the matter is Vita is NOT a full time player, Logan Hall looked overmatched and JTS is mediocre at best.
April 28th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
He’s a disruptor that can move around the Dline. 98 athleticism score with excellent production. Love this pick.