Zyon McCollum confirmed everything that Todd Bowles and Jason Licht believed about him following the 2023 season - he’s a certified starting corner in the NFL and they can move on from Carlton Davis.
McCollum went through last week participating in practice but unsure whether or not he was actually going to be able to play. It wasn’t until Saturday, about 24 hours before kickoff, when McCollum cleared concussion protocol and knew he was going to get the start. Then, he had the best game of his career.
On Jared Goff’s first pass attempt of the game, McCollum made a diving play to snag his first career interception. He went on to have four passes defensed - a team high - as well as eight tackles. Going against Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, McCollum rose to the occasion and went toe-to-toe with one of the best receiving duos in the NFL.
Great coverage by McCollum late in the game forced a 4th and 10 attempt from the 26-yard line with nine seconds left in the game. Sure tackling prevented small to moderate gains from being explosive plays. There was nothing thrown McCollum’s way that he wasn’t ready for.
This game, while it was a massive win for the Bucs on the road while short-handed, solidified that McCollum has grown by leaps and bounds from the player he was just two years ago as a rookie. His opportunity in 2023, filling in for Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis when they were injured, not only gave McCollum the experience he needed but it gave him the confidence to know that he belongs on that field as a starter. That he’s earned his spot through the work he’s put in. I mean, this is a player that not only bought a jugs machine, but taught his new bride how to operate it so that over the summer they could go to different parks around the city and he could work on his hands.
The tests are far from over, with players like A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk, and Rashee Rice all coming up, but if I told you in 2022 that Zyon McCollum would be a starting outside corner you probably would have expected the worst. It’s a testament to how far he’s come in such a short time - and that the Bucs have an absolute weapon opposite Jamel Dean for the foreseeable future.
Zyon McCollum confirmed everything that Todd Bowles and Jason Licht believed about him following the 2023 season - he’s a certified starting corner in the NFL and they can move on from Carlton Davis.
McCollum went through last week participating in practice but unsure whether or not he was actually going to be able to play. It wasn’t until Saturday, about 24 hours before kickoff, when McCollum cleared concussion protocol and knew he was going to get the start. Then, he had the best game of his career.
On Jared Goff’s first pass attempt of the game, McCollum made a diving play to snag his first career interception. He went on to have four passes defensed - a team high - as well as eight tackles. Going against Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, McCollum rose to the occasion and went toe-to-toe with one of the best receiving duos in the NFL.
Great coverage by McCollum late in the game forced a 4th and 10 attempt from the 26-yard line with nine seconds left in the game. Sure tackling prevented small to moderate gains from being explosive plays. There was nothing thrown McCollum’s way that he wasn’t ready for.
This game, while it was a massive win for the Bucs on the road while short-handed, solidified that McCollum has grown by leaps and bounds from the player he was just two years ago as a rookie. His opportunity in 2023, filling in for Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis when they were injured, not only gave McCollum the experience he needed but it gave him the confidence to know that he belongs on that field as a starter. That he’s earned his spot through the work he’s put in. I mean, this is a player that not only bought a jugs machine, but taught his new bride how to operate it so that over the summer they could go to different parks around the city and he could work on his hands.
The tests are far from over, with players like A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk, and Rashee Rice all coming up, but if I told you in 2022 that Zyon McCollum would be a starting outside corner you probably would have expected the worst. It’s a testament to how far he’s come in such a short time - and that the Bucs have an absolute weapon opposite Jamel Dean for the foreseeable future.
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.png)
