Calijah Kancey

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Calijah Kancey
No. 94 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (2001-03-01) March 1, 2001 (age 23)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:281 lb (127 kg)
Career information
High school:Miami Northwestern (Miami, Florida)
College:Pittsburgh (2019–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 1 / pick: 19
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2024
Total tackles:43
Sacks:8
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Calijah Demetrius Kancey (born March 1, 2001) is an American professional football defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers, where he was named the 2022 ACC Defensive Football Player of the Year. Kancey was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Early life

Kancey attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School in Miami, Florida.[1][2] Over his final two seasons in high school he had over 200 tackles combined. He committed to the University of Pittsburgh to play college football.[3]

College career

Kancey played in one game his freshman year at Pittsburgh in 2019, the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl, and took a redshirt. In 2020, he played in 11 games and started the final four games of the season. He recorded 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks. As a 14-game starter in 2021, Kancey had 35 tackles and seven sacks and was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.[4] He returned to Pittsburgh as a starter in 2022 where he was named a unanimous All-American. He finished the season with 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 14.5 tackles for loss which lead the nation for interior defenders.[5][6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 1 in
(1.85 m) 		281 lb
(127 kg) 		30+5⁄8 in
(0.78 m) 		9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.67 s 1.64 s 2.69 s 4.36 s 7.00 s 33.5 in
(0.85 m)		 9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)
Sources:[7][8]

Kancey was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft with the 19th overall pick.[9] Kancey was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for November of the 2023 season.[10]

After re-aggravating a calf injury during his debut in a Week 1, 20–17 win over the Minnesota Vikings,[11] Kancey played his first full NFL game in a Week 6, 20–6 loss to the Detroit Lions, during which he recorded six quarterback pressures and his first career sack.[12][13] He finished his rookie season with four sacks, 26 tackles, and one pass defended.[14]

In his first career playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kancey recorded four tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, helped contribute to a safety, and helped contribute to stopping not just one, but two Brotherly Shove attempts in the Buccaneers' Wild Card Round victory. The Buccaneers remain the only team to do so.[15]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL FF FR Yds TD Int Yds TD PD
2023 TB 10 10 19 13 6 4.0 9 — — — — — — — 1
Career 10 10 19 13 6 4.0 9 — — — — — — — 1

References

  1. ^ Kornblut, Phil (February 21, 2018). "South Carolina recruiting: Calijah Kancey likes Gamecocks". TheState.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  2. ^ DiPaola, Jerry (October 27, 2021). "Florida natives, Pitt defensive stars Calijah Kancey, Brandon Hill unconcerned by Miami snub". TribLIVE.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Smith, Cam (June 18, 2018). "Pitt somehow lands 9 football commitments during busy Sunday". USA TODAY High School Sports. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  4. ^ McGonigal, John (August 2, 2022). "Pitt's Calijah Kancey poised to turn preseason accolades into postseason reality". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "Pitt film study: Calijah Kancey earns more national praise as he mixes strength, explosiveness and technique". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 13, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Thompson, Stephen (October 5, 2022). "Pitt DT Calijah Kancey Learning to Face Double Teams, Make Sacrifices". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "Calijah Kancey Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Calijah Kancey College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Haalboom, Collin (April 27, 2023). "Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select Calijah Kancey in Round 1 of 2023 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  10. ^ Smith, Scott (November 30, 2023). "Calijah Kancey Named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  11. ^ Thompson, Stephen (September 11, 2023). "Former Pitt DT Leaves Bucs Game Early with Injury". SI.com. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "Goff throws for 353 yards, 2 TDs to lead NFC North-leading Lions past sputtering Buccaneers 20–6". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  13. ^ Smith, Scott (October 17, 2023). "Calijah Kancey a 'Disruptive' Force in First Full NFL Game". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Calijah Kancey 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  15. ^ Thompson, Stephen (January 16, 2024). "Pitt's Calijah Kancey Dominates NFL Playoff Debut". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
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