Calijah Kancey Cements Himself As Rising Star
While the Buccaneers’ defense failed to stop Jayden Daniels and the Washington Offense in the Wildcard game ending their promising season, Calijah Kancey showcased why Tampa hit a homerun drafting him 19th overall in 2023.
Rookie Campaign Flashes Potential
Calijah Kancey had a standout rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 quickly establishing himself as one of the most promising young players in the league. After being selected 19th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Kancey exceeded expectations. A blend of athleticism, technique, and high football IQ, which led to a highly productive season with 4.0 sacks in 14 games played even while dealing with a nagging calf injury. Kancey’s quickness off the ball was evident, as he frequently got past blockers to pressure opposing quarterbacks, registering 10 quarterback hits in addition to 26 total tackles. While the sacks didn’t stack in his rookie season, Kancey’s knack for living in the backfield was apparent with 12 QB Hits and 10 tackles for loss.
Star Shines Bright In Sophomore Sunlight
Kancey continued that strong start with a stellar sophomore season in 2024. Calijah continued to show his elite first step and power-pushing back offensive lineman. The promising Defensive Lineman took another step forward in his development cementing himself as one of the league’s budding stars stuffing the stat sheet with 7.5 sacks, 28 tackles, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, 10 tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hits. Kancey’s high motor pass rush helped elevate the Buccaneers’ defense which ranked among the top half of the league in terms of sack production. During the Commanders and Buccaneers playoff game, Kancey flashed his speed slipping past the offensive lineman and tackling Commanders’ Brian Robinson for a 3-yard loss in what would turn out to be a goal-line stand prompting commentator Cris Collinsworth to declare “Calijah Kancey has been outstanding. He’s a star in the making here.”
With another offseason to perfect his get off and a healthy 2025 season, the 23-year-old will look to crack double-digit sacks for the first time as the “Baby Aaron Donald” nickname bestowed upon him during his draft process starts to become more than just a coincidence of alma mater.
