Pete Prisco: Calijah Kancey Will Be Next NFL “Superstar”
August 27th, 2025
Big prediction.
When prickly Pete Prisco of CBS is on a roll, it’s best to just take a step back and enjoy it.
Prisco brims with confidence and conviction about his takes. He doesn’t have hot takes, he has strong takes and he will defend them all day.
In a preview of the NFC, seen on CBS, Prisco maintained the Bucs will finish the season with the No. 1 seed in the conference.
So Prisco believes the road to Santa Clara and the Super Bowl must go through Tampa.
After noting how the Bucs are primed to dominate, Prisco advised viewers that the next big thing is on the Bucs roster. So learn the name now, he said.
It’s defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
“The name to keep an eye on [is] Calijah Kancey,” Prisco said. “He’s ready to take his game to superstar status.
“This is the year if he stays on the field — remember, last two years he’s been hurt in training camp. Now he’s back healthy.
“It’s time for him to go to the next level.”
Despite playing in only 12 games last year as he dealt with a calf injury, an injury that also dealt Kancey a setback in training camp his rookie season, Kancey led the Bucs in sacks in with 7.5. At tackle, no less.
And despite Next Gen Stats claiming Kancey didn’t miss a tackle in the regular season, Kancey admitted, yes, he had a missed tackle. Not many, though.
While Prisco may be overstating things Kancey as a “superstar” — how many “superstars” have there even been at defensive tackle?
Joe thinks Prisco is on the money that Kancey will be a feared man by December.
August 27th, 2025 at 4:40 am
Last “superstar” defensive tackle? Try Aaron Donald.
August 27th, 2025 at 4:50 am
I hope so but he needs to start making more than one or two plays a game then disappearing for long stretches.
August 27th, 2025 at 5:12 am
again…show me
August 27th, 2025 at 5:25 am
Like @CJ said.
August 27th, 2025 at 5:45 am
If he can have a carreer similar to Warren Sapp that would change the Bucs defensive front interior four to elite with Vita and company.
The Bucs could become among the elite teams in the NFL.
August 27th, 2025 at 5:59 am
I agree with Prickly Pete
August 27th, 2025 at 6:08 am
In a better defensive system , I would say yes he has a chance to become a pretty big name.
Gonna be pretty hard to reach that level though with a defensive play caller that prioritizes stopping the run and allowing the short passing game to be completed at will.
Whatever he becomes in Tampa with Bowles calling the shots will have to be all on his own, because this system isnt very conducive to pass rushers.
If Bowles gives up game day play calling duties, then we can talk. Until then, you can expect more of the same. Top 10 run defense, bottom 5 pass defense, never ending 10-12 play offensive series marching between the 20’s with negative runs and 0 to 8 yard passes completed at an 85% clip. It’s like clockwork.
Sorry, Bowles has finally burned me out.
August 27th, 2025 at 6:45 am
LOL I’ll believe it when I see it.
August 27th, 2025 at 6:56 am
So, although the Bowles defense frustrates me sometimes — it is almost always just because a little softer zone than most teams.
However, his hybrid 3-4 system really lets him exploit his strength with his defensive tackles every year.
For defensive tackles, this means they aren’t just there to absorb blockers and occupy gaps (a traditional “two-gapping” role). Instead, they are an integral part of a system designed to create pressure and confusion. The goal is disruption, whether that’s stopping the run or getting to the quarterback.
It seems like Kancey and Bowles are a pair made in heaven. Most teams could not use an under weighted interior D-Lineman like Bowles can.
August 27th, 2025 at 7:23 am
Just don’t let him practice the Thursday or Friday before game day! Lol
August 27th, 2025 at 7:49 am
Elijah Roberts looked like a monster during the worthless preseason. He was the best defensive linemen in the preseason and might be a good combo with Kancey and Vea. Roberts might even push Logan Hall this year for the starting position.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:04 am
I know he can get 1 sack per game.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Well, he didn’t get injured in training camp for a change. So let’s see.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:21 am
Gotbucs just provided some insight into why Bucs defense resides in the bottom 5. If you are defenseless against the short passing game, you render your pass rush pointless. Bowels is, indeed, a liability as a defensive coordinator. What say you, Joe?
August 27th, 2025 at 8:31 am
17 sacks? I’d take that all day!
August 27th, 2025 at 8:41 am
Kancey played in 2 less games last year than he did his rookie year in 2023 and managed to post better numbers in tackles, pressures, & sacks. All Calijah has to do is stay healthy and keep on making plays. Easier said than done, but still doable as long as he’s available.
August 27th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Absolutely. He could have a breakout year with 12+ sacks if he plays the full year.
August 27th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Chris Jones KC is the latest superstar
August 27th, 2025 at 10:08 am
No more loyal, long time Bucs fan than moi. I’m still cautious about this #1 NFC seed talk. Detroit, Eagles and Washington are no cupcakes. We will see.
August 27th, 2025 at 10:20 am
Kancry is truly an Aaron Donald clone. Which is the highest praise a player of his body type and position can receive.
LFG, Kancey
August 27th, 2025 at 10:40 am
i can hear keyshawn saying ‘fake john randle’ over and over again haha
August 27th, 2025 at 10:56 am
you a fake john randle lol season rests on the d line
August 27th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Until he has a coach who will use him properly and coach him up, he will plateau and regress.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Superstar DTs in the last 25 years that I can think of: John Randle, Sapp, Donald, Chris Jones. Slightly lower tier: Suh, Geno Atkins, Richard Seymour, La’Roi Glover…
Not sure he’ll be up there with those names, but I’d settle for 10 sacks a year!
August 27th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
This guy is nothijg like Aaron Donald.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Kancey is going to ball now that the Bucs a legit edge opposite of Diaby in Reddick.
The joes know what they are talking about advocating for Reddick for so long.
August 27th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Anything over 10 and I’ll dance at his wedding.
August 27th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
Aaron Donald is an athletic freak with moves, speed, and crazy power. I don’t think Kancey has near the power of Donald. Hoping I’m wrong and the guys gets 10+ sacks.
August 27th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Allen Lofton Says:
August 27th, 2025 at 5:45 am
If he can have a carreer similar to Warren Sapp that would change the Bucs defensive front interior four to elite with Vita and company.
————-
I like how dismissively you say that – as if Vita is even in the same conversation as Sapp. LOL!
If he had a career similar to Warren Sapp, it would mean him becoming a future defensive MVP and a first ballot HOF who literally changed the position.
August 27th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
People comparing him to Donald or Sapp need to slow down, but he has looked great and I think he can become a ‘superstar’ – but I think it’s more about believing superstar is more of a pro-bowl level guy who is borderline an all-pro. Above superstar would be elite, in my vocab. And I’ve said for a while that year 3, barring injury, should be his breakout year, so we shall see.
August 27th, 2025 at 3:11 pm
Once coach Bowles finds out about this he’ll start having him drop back in coverage. No better way to dull a shiny star than to have a player do something he didn’t grow up doing
August 27th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
Needs a pass rusher to take the pressure off.
Maybe we have one ? Maybe we don’t?
August 27th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
“People comparing him to Donald or Sapp need to slow down, but he has looked great and I think he can become a ‘superstar’ –“
A more athletic Dwight Freeny in terms of player comps. Calijah just needs to be himself from rep to rep. I want to see a front 4 with he & Elijah Roberts playing inside.
August 27th, 2025 at 11:19 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch – If he’s Freeny, I’ll be incredibly excited, as Freeny was amazing and a HOFer. But I don’t think he’s really all that much like Freeny – who was much faster (4.48) but also quite a bit smaller – and played more of an edge role vs Kancey who plays more inside.
But comparing guys to HOFers rarely works out as it sets the bar way too high. The only guys who I’ve seen live up to that billing, when compared to HOFers, and it worked out, have been Winfield (Barber) and David (Brooks). David should be a HOFer, and I think he does make it in, for Winfield, it’s still much earlier in his career, and it’s really hard for safeties to make it in, but he was literally the best safety in football for multiple years of his career already – he just has to stay healthy and play a long time, and he should one day make it in.