Head Coach’s Pet Keionte Scott
April 25th, 2026
It sounds like freshly drafted Tampa Bay rookie nickel cornerback Keionte Scott fits the “I am that man” mantra at One Buc Palace.
That slogan represents the attributes the Bucs want in a teammate and player. It’s modeled after Lavonte David. And Scott, the Bucs’ Round 4 pick, hits the mark if you listen to his most recent college head coach, Mario Cristobal of the University of Miami.
“Besides his skillset, and you saw him run a 4.3 [40-yard dash] at his pro day, the guy just consistently, consistently changes the mood of the building. I mean, he changed the locker room inside and out with his demeanor,” Cristobal said of Scott on ESPN TV today.
“He was a great example for the young guys. And look, this guy, no matter how banged up he was, he just went. To me, he’s one of my favorite players of all-time wherever I’ve been. He’s just a badass son of a gun.”
The Bucs sure added some fire into their defense, on the field and off. First-round pick edge rusher Rueben Bain is not shy. And Scott is a very vocal dude, along with free agent signings Alex Anzalone, A’Shawn Robinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Joe suspects Todd Bowles and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht were very attracted to the impact Scott made when he landed in Miami a year ago from Auburn and the junior college ranks.
April 25th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
He’s short though. We have no one who can cover tall WRs.
April 25th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
The D room has CHANGED! Thats for sure….long gone are the lazy ones i hope, and the ones still here, well, you’re getting an adjustment if you werent right…you’ll be right now…we got some dogs in here!
April 25th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Solid A for this year’s draft.
April 25th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
Sorry boys but I have been traumatized by the year end skids of 2024 and 2025
I am numb and incapable of the annual giddiness following the NFL draft!
April 25th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
Looks like he might be a real fit at nickel. I just hope we have enough depth on the outside, as those guys are notorious for always getting hurt. I don’t think we’ve kept our outside CBs on the field much at all over recent years. I’d like to see him fill a kind of Ronde Barber role though. The run support DB, the blitz package DB, and the nickel zone read DB. I hear he struggles a bit with man2man, so gameplan to their strengths.
April 25th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
It sure will be interesting to see what happens with the overpaid Zyon. Jason has spent a lot of the owners dough on him. Perhaps the best thing would be for the new defensive players to have a behind closed doors meeting with him. But the real message would be to trade him if a partner could be found.
April 25th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Let’s take it a little further. Get Scott & Bain to start recruiting Armondo Blount on the sly from now, so they can be the scouting departments’ favorites
April 25th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
^ nice one Warren
April 25th, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Scott is a hair under 6 feet and very athletic he can stay taller wrs, besides the top big guys are usually double teamed
April 25th, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai,
Our D line and edge rushers will help with that! Bain DROY, book it!
April 25th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
And if Kancey can play at least 14 games, look out!
April 25th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
How long are his arms?
April 25th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
The defense arrow is pointing up. We need a bunch of suhs lol. We deff got a few
Only time will tell. Excited again to watch some games
April 25th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
I actually like this pick.
I think zyons problem is effort and not skill. Hope he has a chip on his shoulder after not showing up last season. 2024 I saw potential
April 25th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
All of you people talking about is Hyatt go to take a look at his pro day. He had a 44 inch vertical which would’ve been first among all cornerbacks and defensive backs at the combine. This dude is so athletic and he reminds me of a taller, Brent Grimes with faster wheels.
April 25th, 2026 at 6:11 pm
He’s like Cooper Dejean.
A big, nasty nickle/linebacker.
He is a nickle nightmare. And a special teams gunner.
April 25th, 2026 at 6:25 pm
BucEmUp Says:
April 25th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
I think zyons problem is effort and not skill. Hope he has a chip on his shoulder after not showing up last season.
^^^^^
Zyon’s problem is one of bad attitude and a sense of entitlement.
The IR penalty in addition to at least some ridicule by teammates or others (agent?) had to be a cause for embarrassment. I suspect he would welcome a change of scenery.
April 25th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Hopefully a miracle happens and he can be coached up with respect to coverage.
April 25th, 2026 at 7:17 pm
He’s one of the best cover corners in the NCAA idiot