As is the annual custom, Pewter Report might be attending the Reese’s Senior Bowl this week. And for good purpose. Bucs normal supervisor Jason Licht has an extended historical past of drafting Senior Bowl alumni. As of final 12 months, the Senior Bowl has ascended to an entire new degree as they now invite underclassmen. They actually ought to rename the occasion, however I digress.
Given Tampa Bay’s greatest want this 12 months this linebacker, listed below are some gamers who I might be paying particular consideration to this week in Cellular, Alabama on the premier faculty all-star recreation.
Bucs’ Inside Linebacker Targets
Carson Schwesinger – UCLA
UCLA ILB Carson Schwesinger – Picture by: USA Right now
Carson Schwesinger’s weigh-in weight might be crucial, and he didn’t attend the weigh-in on Monday. Was that as a result of he was delayed in coming to Cellular or is he skipping the Senior Bowl altogether? We’ll discover out on Tuesday when the practices begin.
UCLA’s web site has Schwesinger listed at 225 kilos. On tape he seems and performs lighter. Even in a day and age the place inside linebackers are routinely 15-30 kilos lighter than they have been on the flip of the century, 225 is mild. I’ve to imagine he has been engaged on bulking as much as 230-235.
But when he does weigh in at that vary, how does it have an effect on the way in which he strikes? Can he keep his capability in house with an additional few burritos on his body? If he can, he ought to solidify himself as an early Day 2 decide and a potential second-round choice at linebacker for Tampa Bay. Schwesinger completed 2024 with 136 mixed tackles, 9 for a loss, 4 sacks, two interceptions and three passes defensed.
Demetrius Knight Jr. – South Carolina
South Carolina ILB Demetrius Knight Jr. – Picture by: USA Right now
Demetrius Knight Jr. has acquired much less fanfare than a few of the different high linebackers on this draft. A part of that’s as a result of he wasn’t a full-time participant. However in my early viewings I actually like Knight’s athleticism and decisiveness enjoying downhill. He’s a stable tackler and a plus as a run defender, displaying good really feel for run ideas and discovering the gaps operating backs wish to exploit. That’s a stable base degree to achieve success as a linebacker within the NFL.
He can get sideline to sideline in each the run recreation in addition to sniffing out shallows, flats and screens. The true query with Knight might be if he can learn to really feel out route ideas that develop behind him. Proper now, primarily based on the tape I’ve watched it seems like he’s making an attempt to course of in actual time and that may result in paralysis by evaluation. However Knight was late to linebacker, switching to it in faculty, so there should still be room to develop for him.
If he can get rid of some intermediate routes behind him throughout workforce drills in Cellular, he could get on the Bucs’ radar as an choice within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL draft. Knight ended his collegiate profession with 82 tackles, eight for a loss, two sacks one interception and one move defensed in 2024.
Jeffrey Bassa – Oregon
Oregon ILB Jeffrey Bassa – Picture by: USA Right now
Y’all, I feel I discovered my draft crush. Of all of the linebackers I’ve watched to this point, Jeffrey Bassa exhibits the very best expertise in house and protection. He can run the seam and will get his head round to make performs on the ball. He has three profession interceptions, together with one returned for a landing, plus one other 5 passes defensed. The Bucs struggled to cowl the center of the sector final 12 months on account of a scarcity of athleticism to have the ability to run seams in Cowl 3 or the pole in Cowl 2. Bassa would be capable of deliver that capability to the place.
He’s not as bodily or proficient as a run defender as a few of the different linebackers on this class, however the Bucs constantly play the run effectively regardless of who they’ve lining up on the place. They need to prioritize motion and protection expertise, and that is the place I feel Bassa shines.
I’m hoping he continues to face out in that space in Cellular whereas stunning me working downhill working into gaps on zone runs. Bassa recorded 54 mixed tackles, three for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and two passes defensed in 2024.
