Ten NFL draft prospects who could follow their coaches to the Buccaneers

Greg Auman

NFC South Reporter

There’s a strong dose of not just college football but SEC football in the Buccaneers’ new offensive coaching staff, starting with new coordinator Liam Coen spending the 2021 and 2023 seasons in the same role at Kentucky.

New Bucs receivers coach Bryan McClendon will be making his NFL coaching debut in Tampa after a strong run in college working directly with the likes of Deebo Samuel, Nick Chubb and Todd Gurley. And even new assistant offensive line coach Brian Picucci worked mostly in college, including this past season at Kentucky with Coen.

Add it all together, and the Bucs suddenly have direct ties to an intriguing number of draft prospects at positions they could use help at. It’s familiarity that can go a long way in player evaluation. Here are 10 names to remember, especially in the later rounds of the draft:

(1) Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

McClendon worked closely with the Bulldogs star the past two years, and we won’t know how much the Bucs need receiver help until Pro Bowler Mike Evans’ situation is resolved. McConkey is smaller at 6 feet, 185 pounds, but his speed should translate well to the NFL. While he played only nine games in 2023 — he totaled 30 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns — McConkey was a key part of Georgia’s national championship team in 2022, catching 58 passes for 762 yards and seven scores. In a deep draft class of receivers, McConkey is seen as a late second-round pick, potentially still available when the Bucs pick at 57.

(2) Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky

Davis bounced from Temple to Vanderbilt to Kentucky, so he was only with Coen for one season, but it was an impressive one. Davis rushed for 990 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, and caught another 25 passes for 266 yards and five scores. He’s listed at 5-10, 216, and seen as a versatile back who can do a bit of everything out of the backfield. This isn’t a strong draft class…

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Publish date : 2024-02-19 20:08:42

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