“It Feels Like Graduation”

August 8th, 2024

So how does it feel to sit out a preseason game?

That’s a new phenomenon for Bucs third-year cornerback Zyon McCollum, who will not play along with the rest of the Tampa Bay starters on Saturday in Cincinnati, Todd Bowles announced today.

“It feels like graduation,” McCollum told Joe. “No, it feels good. Definitely. You know, I look forward to getting preseason reps in the future just for getting back to football and getting our pads under us. But it’s smart to [sit the starters]. We gotta see these young guys work. It feels good to be named in that position and to get to root on these young guys.”

So Zyon, what’s it like to be a young player heading into a preseason game, like you did the past two years. “Anxiety, nervousness. All that good stuff, McCollum said, adding that mistakes are so helpful to make in a preseason game in preseason.

Yes, Joe expects plenty of mistakes on Saturday, but the Bucs offense should be held together well with veteran Kyle Trask starting at quarterback.

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12 Responses to ““It Feels Like Graduation””

  1. JimBobBuc Says:

    I am looking forward to special teams. How aggressive will the Bucs be? Will a returner flash to replace Thompkins?

  2. Mike Says:

    The Bucs have a lot of good young talent so they should be competitive. Looking forward to seeing some Bucs ball!

  3. Cobraboy Says:

    “Starters” will play in the closed scrimmages with other teams.

    No problem.

    So we get to see what the rook class looks like on TV.

  4. Dave Pear Says:

    But, the games are worthless. Why risk injury to anyone? Get a highschool JV team to suit up in Bucs uniforms, and name Darcy Glazer to start under center.

  5. Defense Rules Says:

    Joe … ‘the Bucs offense should be held together well with veteran Kyle Trask starting at quarterback.’

    I’m betting that you added the ‘veteran’ after penning the rest of that sentence, just to see if anyone would bite (chumming the water again?). Was I right, huh?

  6. Fan of the South Says:

    I’m betting that you added the ‘veteran’ after penning the rest of that sentence, just to see if anyone would bite (chumming the water again?). Was I right, huh?

    A Vet is a Vet regardless of whether there are people that discount it with statements like all he did was peel potatoes or all he did was hold a clipboard.

    There is a lot to be said for watching film and observing. Haven’t had the need for an appliance repairman or auto mechanic ever. All from watching film.

    Trask has the opportunity to display what he has learned and to showcase some young guys that might not make the roster but could end up signing somewhere else and possibly in the same division.

    BTW Chumming is what Joe does around 1 Buc Place. Churning is what Joe does when he he’s looking for 100 replies to any given Post. Stirring the Pot or Churning. Potatoe / Potato.

    I appreciate the fact that D.R. could at least hint that he could be wrong once.

  7. D-Rok Says:

    @DR,

    Yep, I caught that also. Sneaky sarcasm, perhaps? LOL, it’s all good.

  8. John Sinclear Says:

    Dave – Better idea. Have our cheerleaders play their cheerleaders, bikinis, shoulder pads and helmets. No longer “worthless pre-season games” !!

  9. heyjude Says:

    Really excited about all of them.

    Thank you Joe, Ira, and others. Hearing about the players on here, it feels like we know them personally. Elijah Klein eats 5 sandwiches some days. Zyon says he has some anxiety and nervousness and it feels good. Todd Bowles says that Vita thinks he is cute since losing weight. I have also learned so much from other commenters too. It feels like graduation for all of us too! Preseason is finally here. Go Bucs! 🏈

  10. Dtownva Says:

    Just a note for Defense Rules. I skip over a number of regular posters. You aren’t one of them. Your posts are both articulate and informative.

  11. WanderingWallflower Says:

    Fan of the south but not a fan of deep sea fishing, hey chum? Sorry, I enjoyed the mixup on the word chumming too much.

  12. Proudbucsfan Says:

    Zyon McCollum is one of my favorite young players and has been since we drafted him. I’m so happy he’s starting. I’m pulling for him to get 10 interceptions this year, this kid really has fire in him and he is going to be our best cornerback.