“I Hope That The Fans Can Feel My Enthusiasm”
July 30th, 2024
Rookie tight end Devin Culp.
So two big keys for young players in training camp are to not repeat mistakes and to flash. You gotta get noticed.
Through five practices, Bucs rookie tight end Devin Culp has found ways to get noticed. He plays with a lot of energy, and he’s caught a couple of touchdowns.
It’s early, but Joe sees Culp as guy with good body control and good hands who isn’t shy about giving up his body to catch a pass. He’s undersized for a tight end, around 240 pounds, which is likely why he was a seventh-round pick. But Culp seems to play bigger in the passing game.
Considering the Bucs’ very thin tight ends room, Culp has an excellent chance for a seventh-rounder to stick around the roster.
Regardless, Culp shows his emotion on the practice field and that makes him a fun guy to watch.
“No. 1 reason why I play football is to have fun,” Culp told Joe. “And if you’re not having fun while you’re doing it, I feel like you’re doing it wrong. I hope that the fans can feel my enthusiasm and my passion for the game when I’m out there.”
Training camp is going well for Culp, he said, and he’s treating it as a 24-7 job.
“I feel like I’m playing at a good level,” Culp said. [Fellow rookie roommate Jalen McMillan and I “are continuously doing walk-throughs every single night for installs, so that way we feel as prepared as possible for practice the next day.
“And we’re always quizzing each other on the scripts and different playcalls and stuff like that during the day and at night when we get home [to the team hotel]. We just try to hold each other to that championship level standard because we know that here with the Bucs there’s nothing less than championship standard.”
Wisely, Culp also talked about carving out a role for himself on special teams. That’s critical for any backup trying to make a roster.
Special teams coordinators usually love fired up players, so Culp might have a leg up in that area.
The best way to cool down in Tampa Bay? SLIME 💚
Never a dull moment with @Nickelodeon during Back Together Weekend. pic.twitter.com/w4dhk3pcFt
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 28, 2024
July 30th, 2024 at 7:43 am
Nice to read about Culp. I hadn’t heard much about how he was doing until this post.
July 30th, 2024 at 7:57 am
“I feel like I’m playing at a good level,” Culp said. [Fellow rookie roommate Jalen McMillan and I “are continuously doing walk-throughs every single night for installs, so that way we feel as prepared as possible for practice the next day.”
If this is the type of professionalism they’re conditioning the young men at UDub with then I totally get why we’ve been going back to that well over the last few seasons, or particularly since drafting Vita.
July 30th, 2024 at 8:04 am
How can you not root for a 7th rounder?……And anyone who makes “fun” a priority.
July 30th, 2024 at 8:30 am
Culp had just as many yards as Otton during Otton’s senior year. They were on the same team
July 30th, 2024 at 8:35 am
I’ve noticed Culp is getting a lot of video time for a 7th rounder and def knows the right thing to say when the cameras are on. Sounds like his play is backing it up as well!
July 30th, 2024 at 9:20 am
A keeper
July 30th, 2024 at 9:43 am
Would be great for him to be that diamond in the rough. We really need depth, and an upgrade truthfully, at tight end.
July 30th, 2024 at 9:44 am
Doesn’t hurt that he runs a 4.47. TE and ST.
He looks pretty maxed out, though. I don’t see him adding weight.
July 30th, 2024 at 9:51 am
I’ve had my eye on Dev because he has 4.47 speed. Coming out of UW he had the rep of making crazy good catches but sometimes struggled with hard throws or very easy catches. It’s great to hear about his attitude off the field and he’s making plays too. He seems to be a keeper for the 53 as he should be good on deep seams and special teams!
July 30th, 2024 at 9:59 am
I saw that 40 time and I had high hopes for him. Now…can he block?
July 30th, 2024 at 10:30 am
Agree Fred. Coach Justin Peelle was brought in as TE coach to improve the TE blocking (Van Damm was a passing focused coach). So let’s see if Peele can get the TE’s to block.
July 30th, 2024 at 10:38 am
Devin Culp is close to Mike Alstott size…hmn.
They should test him out in that role as well. Sounds like he might be willing to try anything.
He doesn’t look like the ST type
July 30th, 2024 at 11:52 am
I doubt he’ll ever be a force in the run / blocking game, but that speed will be effective against linebackers if his hands are good.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Really cheering for this guy. Love his attitude and absent Canalwater, maybe the offensive design can use him to create mismatches.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Bucs had a stellar draft and Culp can definitely make this team and contribute right away.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Dude….I agree whole heartedly with your statement. I love this mentality. It’s only going to lead to good things!
July 30th, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Culp has tons of speed, and if he can catch, he should make the team since he brings something totally different to the TE depth chart.
July 30th, 2024 at 2:36 pm
Culp has enough Washington teammates to feel at home and Coen will quickly figure out where best to use him. I’d like to see him in short yardage runs too.
Its going to be Tough to cover the Bucs this season. Glad we have Baker to distribute the ball effectively.
July 30th, 2024 at 5:07 pm
Ironically, the QB that threw them the ball was highly sought after in the draft.
History repeats itself they say. Well, here’s to hoping it doesn’t, and this time we get a HOF Receiver AND Tightened.
July 30th, 2024 at 10:54 pm
^^^
I see what you did there, very nice