Thoughts From Tez Johnson
April 26th, 2025
Rookie Bucs wide receiver/returner Tez Johnson.
So after new Bucs receiver Tez Johnson, the seventh-round pick from Oregon, did his Zoom call with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club, Joe has a few thoughts:
* Boy, this guy is full of personality. Bucs fans will want to root for this guy. He is all-in on Tampa Bay. He’s stoked to have an opportunity to help the Bucs get back to the Super Bowl. He wants to leave his mark with the Bucs before his football career is over. In fact, he said his career goal, aside from helping to win another Super Bowl, is to retire a Bucs player.
* Johnson said his name “Tez” is a nickname, short for “Tasmanian Devil” of Bugs Bunny fame for his whirling running through and around traffic.
* Hs goal running with the ball is to run like a “squirrel.”
* Johnson is very tight with Bucs running back Bucky Irving. The two were roommates in Eugene. To get himself mentally energized for games, Johnson said he watches Bucky’s highlights with the Bucs.
* When new Bucs assistant general manager Rob McCartney was asked about Johnson’s effusive personality, he busted out laughing. “He lights up a room.”
* Johnson knows how to channel Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. After his responsibilities today as a new NFL receiver, he’s going to jump in the lake to celebrate. You know, like Licht’s pool-jumps?
* He said he’s so stoked about getting to work with the Bucs, he’s tempted to drive to Tampa tonight.
* Johnson is disappointed the Bucs won’t play the Broncos this fall and his close friend/adopted brother Bo Nix. “I was going to give it to Sean Payton.”
* Asked how he plans to blend in with the Bucs, Johnson said, “It is my (responsibility) to be a sponge.”
* When he saw the Bucs were calling, Johnson said to himself, “Them other teams done messed up.”
* On the Bucs drafting him in the seventh round, “What took them so long?”
* Johnson said his mom broke down crying when he told her the Bucs were drafting him. “I knew she would.”
* Johnson said his mom always wanted to live in Florida. Now she will.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
Good Luck young man!
GO BUCS
April 26th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
Awesome. If half of these picks hit, the Bucs are gonna be tough to beat.
Isn’t it amazing what the Bucs have built in the last 7-8 years? Not sure about the Parrish footage I saw but all these other guys seem to love football, were all thrilled, breaking down in tears… Bucs culture stays super strong!
I’m not concerned about ILB at the moment. Team around that position is rock solid and deep. Injuries hit us at ILB… we have cap space to make a move.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:39 pm
That is very cool article Joe, the kid sounds like he has his head on straight
April 26th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
He should do a podcast with Daryl Johnston. Call it Moose & Squirrel.
April 26th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
Go Tez!!
April 26th, 2025 at 7:50 pm
This beats the Trey Palmer interview by a mile
April 26th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
🙂
No Natasha?
April 26th, 2025 at 8:04 pm
Love this guy already!!!
April 26th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
Good! We will be pulling for this guy. He weighs what Devonta Smith weighed when he got drafted to the Eagles. So we know how that worked out.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Lichts drafts are so good….it could be pushing previous picks off the roster…..Britt, Hainsey…..now perhaps Hayes & Palmer
April 26th, 2025 at 8:21 pm
Run like a squirrel! Lol!
April 26th, 2025 at 8:51 pm
Might finally have a legit return man. No more Tucker, Palmer, Bucky, White back there. This would drastically help field position.
April 26th, 2025 at 8:56 pm
Welcome, Tez (and Mom)!
April 26th, 2025 at 8:57 pm
I was skeptical because of the size, but his highlights are pretty damn impressive. As a return man, he should be effective… Also, scheme him into the open field, and we’re eating up chunks… so this could be a sneaky good pick.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:14 pm
I got to watch him in Eugene last year. You pretty much heard his name on every drive. Kid will be a match up nightmare in the slot and putting him in motion.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:20 pm
No Natasha?
JBF at its best!
Thanks for all the draft coverage – the best on the interwebs
April 26th, 2025 at 9:23 pm
This team sure has come a long way from the days of Donteea Dye and Freddie Martino.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:30 pm
If you watched any Oregon football, you noticed Tez. Nice late pick.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:32 pm
Nobody loves you like your Mom. CONGRATULATIONS TEZ!! We’re all rooting for you to make ur Momma even prouder than she already is. GO BUCS!!
April 26th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
Watching his highlights, they just don’t align at all with his workout numbers – he plays a lot faster than that. So anyone looking at his draft profile and seeing 4.54 and 150lbs or whatever – he’s running away from guys on tape, and there’s no way he’s doing that if his speed is actually 4.54.
BTW, to back that up, I looked up his top speed, and I’m seeing he was clocked at 22.17 during a game – for reference Kavontae Turpin of the Cowboys hit 22.30 mph during a return, which was the fastest speed in the NFL last year.
Anywho, he’s a 7th rounder, so who knows – he’s very undersized, but I assume he’s going to return the ball and probably be a gadget guy in the screen game where I think he can do pretty well.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:48 pm
Thanks SRQ!
April 26th, 2025 at 9:59 pm
He’s gonna be our punt returner and the Bucky Irving of our WR group.
He’s a Buc for Life!
I love this kid already.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:12 pm
Erik – I think if anything he’s more of a Deven Thompkins clone, but probably not as good. Thompkins college highlight reel is insane, he looked so good, like he should have been a surefire hit as at least a returner, but he was just too small. Tez is about the same size, might be faster in a straight line, but I don’t think is as quick as Thompkins.
Thompkins – 5′ 8″, if he was just a few inches taller, I think he’d have been like a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick. The one thing Tez has going for him is that he’s a couple inches taller 5′ 10″ – but concerningly listed a pound lighter. But on tape, Tez doesn’t look that small, I don’t see him and think he’s tiny, probably because he’s 5′ 10″ and wearing a ton of armor.
Anywho, I don’t think you’ll see him out there lining up in the slot or outside where he’d easily get knocked off his routes, but as a returner, and running screens, maybe some gadget plays out of the backfield, he might just earn his way onto the roster and make some plays. If you get that out of a 7th rounder, you won that slot in the draft.
April 26th, 2025 at 10:23 pm
Capnhowdy
Welcome to Tampa Bay!
War Eagle! And Go Bucs!
April 26th, 2025 at 10:33 pm
My kinda guy I’m rooting for him already. Good luck rook that receivers room has been stagnant for a few years. They’ll be some rough cuts to make this year
April 26th, 2025 at 11:14 pm
Watched this kid play at Troy early in his college career. He was the best player on the field many times. His quickness in space is remarkable to watch!
April 27th, 2025 at 12:04 am
Let’s talk ILB cap casualties. BUCS are likely gonna make a move once those hit and a lot of times those players are very good players just too expensive for the amount of production.
Bucs did good in the draft. Egbuka was projected to go 4th overall last year but opted to stay at school. Morrison is a legitimate lockdown corner if he really is healthy like Bucs Dr’s say . He shut down Marvin Harris jr big time. Morrison may be an absolute steal. I hope the Bucs medical staff is right about his health because that young man can flat out play. Day one starter. BUCS got at the very least two day one starters in this draft. Yes I know Egbuka will have to rotate but he is starter talent.
April 27th, 2025 at 2:52 am
Loving knowing more about Tez. He is tight with Bucky and friends with Bo Nix. Says so much too. Moving his mom to Florida. Great kid thinking of his mom too.
April 27th, 2025 at 2:52 am
Thanks Joe! This dude seems very real. I like him already.
Go Bucs!
April 27th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
I think this guy makes the team as a returner and I’m rooting for him! I’m over Trey Palmer who took a step backwards in year two.