The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a risky move by trading long-term starting cornerback Carlton Davis III to Detroit during the offseason. It was a strategic move, done because they knew they had players in-house ready to step up.
In his third year, Bucs’ CB Zyon McCollum is off to a hot start and has risen to the occasion in his opportunities so far this season. Leaving the team’s season opener with a concussion, McCollum cleared the protocol in time for a meaningful week two match-up for this Tampa Bay squad.
He kicked off the game by picking off Lions’ Jared Goff in their offense's opening drive for his first career interception, continued by an electric performance. McCollum tallied six tackles and four passes defended- a team high, as well as the interception. He was all over the field and it was impressive considering he was limited at practice all week in concussion protocol.
Zyon spoke about his first interception in the NFL and what he expects from himself the remainder of this season:
“It’s just the start. I want to get six, of course, so it makes me even more excited to get the next one. Whenever the ball is finding you, you’re doing good things. I’m just going to continue to be in the right spots and let the ball find me. I’m not focusing out there on trying to make too [many] plays – I’m just doing my job and letting the game come to me.”
It’s been an awesome turnaround from the Sam Houston State product. Coming into the league, McCollum’s shortcomings included his tackling and physicality, a trait that he shined on Sunday! Hitting receivers legally and on-time to cause incompletions, plus he’s given himself multiple opportunities to grab a pick with how locked in he’s been.
“It’s night and day. My rookie year, trying to jump routes, I was always scared, I was always fearful. I didn’t necessarily trust myself,” McCollum admitted. “Now that I know I have the coaches’ trust and I have my teammates’ trust and I’m starting to trust myself, I can really know what I see from film. When I see it out there in the game, I just go for it.”
Confidence is one of the biggest factors when playing in the NFL as a cornerback. Zyon alludes to the trust his coaches and teammates both have in him and how much it helps, even in his preparation for gameday.
The coaches confidence in their starting cornerback is real. Todd Bowles has given credit to his assistant coaches and the part they’ve played in the growth of McCollum, but after two games coach Bowles gives enormous praise on his weekly show, “The Todd Bowles Show”:
“Zyon had an outstanding game. Not just the interception, he had a bunch of pass break-ups. He had some tackles. He studied, he understood what was happening to him on almost every play. He squeezed routes, he came off of plays.” Bowles boasted. “He tackled well, and- you know, I think the sky’s the limit for Zyon. You’re looking at a star in the making right before our eyes.”
Just an encouraging thing to hear from the head coach of a defensive-minded team. Bowles used to play secondary in the NFL and has a knack of developing them in his signature defenses.
The career and 2024 season of Zyon McCollum is still young. But with so many positive outlooks this early in his opportunities as solidified starter, you can’t help but having a ton of excitement for the future of this young Buccaneer defender!
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a risky move by trading long-term starting cornerback Carlton Davis III to Detroit during the offseason. It was a strategic move, done because they knew they had players in-house ready to step up.
In his third year, Bucs’ CB Zyon McCollum is off to a hot start and has risen to the occasion in his opportunities so far this season. Leaving the team’s season opener with a concussion, McCollum cleared the protocol in time for a meaningful week two match-up for this Tampa Bay squad.
He kicked off the game by picking off Lions’ Jared Goff in their offense's opening drive for his first career interception, continued by an electric performance. McCollum tallied six tackles and four passes defended- a team high, as well as the interception. He was all over the field and it was impressive considering he was limited at practice all week in concussion protocol.
Zyon spoke about his first interception in the NFL and what he expects from himself the remainder of this season:
“It’s just the start. I want to get six, of course, so it makes me even more excited to get the next one. Whenever the ball is finding you, you’re doing good things. I’m just going to continue to be in the right spots and let the ball find me. I’m not focusing out there on trying to make too [many] plays – I’m just doing my job and letting the game come to me.”
It’s been an awesome turnaround from the Sam Houston State product. Coming into the league, McCollum’s shortcomings included his tackling and physicality, a trait that he shined on Sunday! Hitting receivers legally and on-time to cause incompletions, plus he’s given himself multiple opportunities to grab a pick with how locked in he’s been.
“It’s night and day. My rookie year, trying to jump routes, I was always scared, I was always fearful. I didn’t necessarily trust myself,” McCollum admitted. “Now that I know I have the coaches’ trust and I have my teammates’ trust and I’m starting to trust myself, I can really know what I see from film. When I see it out there in the game, I just go for it.”
Confidence is one of the biggest factors when playing in the NFL as a cornerback. Zyon alludes to the trust his coaches and teammates both have in him and how much it helps, even in his preparation for gameday.
The coaches confidence in their starting cornerback is real. Todd Bowles has given credit to his assistant coaches and the part they’ve played in the growth of McCollum, but after two games coach Bowles gives enormous praise on his weekly show, “The Todd Bowles Show”:
“Zyon had an outstanding game. Not just the interception, he had a bunch of pass break-ups. He had some tackles. He studied, he understood what was happening to him on almost every play. He squeezed routes, he came off of plays.” Bowles boasted. “He tackled well, and- you know, I think the sky’s the limit for Zyon. You’re looking at a star in the making right before our eyes.”
Just an encouraging thing to hear from the head coach of a defensive-minded team. Bowles used to play secondary in the NFL and has a knack of developing them in his signature defenses.
The career and 2024 season of Zyon McCollum is still young. But with so many positive outlooks this early in his opportunities as solidified starter, you can’t help but having a ton of excitement for the future of this young Buccaneer defender!
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