The preparation for this year’s draft has been like no other before. Between Coronavirus opt-outs among NFL and college players, restructured/shortened schedules for conferences, and cancelled bowl games, it is harder for teams to gather information on the 2021 prospects.
On top of all that, the NFL cancelled the 2021 combine due to health and safety precautions. This has left players with one option to demonstrate their skills and put numbers on the board: Pro Days.
In a normal year, the combine is where teams go to get an unbiased look at prospects, as opposed to university-led Pro Days, where there is potential to manipulate numbers. It’s also an opportunity for teams to conduct face-to-face interviews with prospects and glean medical information. Instead, 2021 has left teams to take a more virtual approach. In March, around 150 prospects arrived in Indianapolis (short of the usual 300) for medical evaluations, but teams were only allowed to send team doctors.
This has changed the approach for all teams -including the Buccaneers- who have had to adapt and overcome these changes. It has presented new challenges in not just getting to know these prospects, but also watching film and evaluating them, as well. All of which general manager Jason Licht has acknowledged.
“You’re watching tape from 2019 [and] a lot can change with a player between 2019 and now, especially if they haven’t been playing and they’ve just been training,” Jason Licht said. “It just makes it a little more challenge. But once again, that’s what we’re dealing with, that’s what every team is dealing with this year.”
The Buccaneers certainly have their work cut out for them, but have they’ve been able to get the ball rolling on the interview process and they are getting to know this new group of prospects.
Between the Senior Bowl and virtual meetings, here is a confirmed list of all the prospects the Buccaneers have met with:
Quarterback:
Ian Book, Notre Dame
Jamie Newman, Wake Forest
Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
Kyle Trask, Florida
Mac Jones, Alabama
Running Back:
Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Khalil Herbert, Virginia Tech
Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana-Lafayette
Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
Trey Ragas, Louisiana-Lafayette
Demetric Felton, RB/WR, UCLA
Wide Receiver:
Ben Skowronek, Notre Dame
Javon McKinley, Notre Dame
Frank Darby, Arizona State
Jhamon Ausbon, Texas A&M
Marquez Stevenson, Houston
Jacob Harris, Central Florida
Terrace Marshall Jr., LSU
Racey McMath, LSU
Kadarius Toney, Florida
Sage Surrat, Wake Forest
T.J. Vasher, Texas Tech
Tight End:
Tommy Trebble, Notre Dame
Brevin Jordan, Miami
John Bates, Boise State
Offensive Tackle:
Brady Christensen, BYU
Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech
Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame
Carson Green, Texas A&M
D’Ante Smith, East Carolina
Stone Forsythe, Florida
Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State
Guard/Center:
G Aaron Banks, Notre Dame
G Jack Anderson, Texas Tech
G Braylon Jones, Houston
G/C Ryan McCollum, Texas A&M
Defensive Line:
Darius Stills, DT, West Virgina
Bobby Brown, DT, Texas A&M
Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington
Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU
Cam Sample, DE, Tulane
Eli Howard, DE, Texas Tech
Edge:
Ade Ogundeji, Notre Dame
Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame
Jaelen Phillips, Miami
Joe Tryon, Washington
Carlos “Boogie” Basham, Wake Forest
Hamilcar Rashed Jr., Oregon State
Payton Turner, Houston
Jonathon Cooper, Ohio State
Linebacker:
Max Richardson, Boston College
Isaiah McDuffie, Boston College
Chaz Suratt, UNC
Justin Hilliard, Ohio State
Pat Johnson, Tulane
Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Amen Ogbongbemiga, Oklahoma State
Cornerback:
Zach McPherson, Texas Tech
Chris Wilcox, BYU
Keith Taylor, Washington
Elijah Molden, Washington
Kary Vincent Jr., LSU
Marco Wilson, Florida
Benjamin St. Juste, Minnesota
Avery Williams, CB/KR/PR, Boise State
Nashon Wright, Oregon State
Isaiah Dunn, Oregon State
Aaron Robinson, Central Florida
Greg Newsome II, Northwestern
Safety:
Devine Deablo, Virgina Tech
Evan Tyler, Boise State
Richie Grant, Central Florida
Kicker:
Evan McPherson, Florida
