Calijah Kancey Talks Changed Body, Baker Mayfield Cheering
August 22nd, 2026
Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey.
Calijah Kancey, the Bucs’ first-round pick in 2024, may look different to a lot of Bucs fans when he makes his preseason debut tonight.
First, they’ll see Kancey at 100 percent. He was quite there when he returned for the season finale last year after a 3 1/2 months on shelf with a mending torn pectoral muscle.
Second, they’ll see a leaner Kancey. He was slightly undersized but still ferocious and effective when healthy in previous years. Now, Kancey definitely looks slightly smaller.
It was all by design and done the right way. “Everything is the right state,” Kancey told Joe in a 1-on-1 chat this week. He says his body feels in prime shape.
That doesn’t mean he came back too soon in January, when the Bucs beat the Panthers to close the season.
“I was probably like 90 percent healthy physically, mentally 110 percent,” Kancey said. “I don’t feel like a rushed the process. I did everything in my will to make sure I was ready to go out there and play for my brothers and not put anybody in jeopardy, or put the team in jeopardy of losing.”
Kancey said there’s a celebratory mood among the team, especially the defensive linemen, after Vita Vea got a raise and a contract extension on Wednesday.
“We’re all happy about Vita,” Kancey said of Vea. “That something that we really wanted to see happen. A staple guy in this organization, a pillar. Vita does everything the right way, on and off the field. That’s a guy that we wanted to see rewarded, and we want it the same way and are rooting for Baker [Mayfield,] as well.”
Another player, who wasn’t speaking on the record, also talked to Joe about rooting for Mayfield getting a contract extension this summer. It seems players think timing is important.
Kancey added that the Vea contract squabble was not stressful because everyone knew the team wanted Vea and Vea wanted to be here.
“It’s just the business part of it,” he said.
August 22nd, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Look different as in he’ll actually be on the field?
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:02 pm
He has to stay healthy this year this defense is going to be good.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:03 pm
I forgot he was on the team
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Just stay healthy please. I want to see this dude shine and he can do so easily with his skill and mindset.
My big 3 injury wishes this season are Wirfs, Baker & Kancey
If all 3 can or do, I like the chances of us ending up somewhere good. I’m getting pumped for the season now!
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Not sure him getting even lighter is the way he’ll stay on the field, but here’s to Joe’s favorite 4-letter word: HOPE!
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:10 pm
I’m like Frasier Crane right now… “I’m Listening.” To JBF on WDAE.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:11 pm
Wasn’t it reported a season or two ago Vita took Calijah with him to train with Suh?
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:11 pm
There,’s a grand plan. Look for Baker to sign labor day weekend. Buccaneers season wins over 8 -130 like steeling money. Won 8 with a hospital ward last year.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:14 pm
Please.
For goodness sake.
Stay healthy and play ball…
You got the goods.
Just stay healthy and you are the man.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:24 pm
Hopefully, he makes that 5th-year option look like a total STEAL for next year… Elevating his trade value is also SO HUGE. It’d be REAL SWEET being able to get a 2027 mid 2nd for him. You’d really have to take that given his size and durability issues, if we are SELLERS, when the time comes.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:39 pm
His rival, Ed Oliver’s 2-year old son passed away. I heard a rumor awhile back about a possible drowning (or something of the like, and involving a kid) at his home.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:42 pm
He’s had a rough introduction to the NFL .
If healthy he is a good player.
August 22nd, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I think they can definitely have a Defense ranked in the top half of the league. If everything goes right, with some luck, and good health… Then, I think they can potentially have a Top 9-12 Defense in the LEAGUE. I mean, we do have THE GURU. Am I right, or am I right!? I’m talking about ‘opponents points allowed’ per game… The main stat that really matters most.
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:02 pm
After becoming even smaller, is he still playing inside on the defensive line? Any talk of his moving outside?
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:02 pm
Melvin when was the last time the Bucs traded a player for a draft pick?
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:05 pm
Good Grief
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:35 pm
Leaner. There’s some good news for a guy too small for his position. Don’t talk to me about Buster Kancey until he’s done something.
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:38 pm
87
Carlton Davis
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:49 pm
A lot of times being a leaner solid player works way better than bulk. The more bulk, unless it’s naturally put on by weight training, means slower response and stress on the joints. Being in that mosh pit that is the line of scrimmage guys get twisted in all sorts of odd angles and then being hit in that odd angle or pressure on the wrong spot and the injury occurs. Sapp thought getting heavier up there would help him and he found out he was wrong. He got his weight back down and had his best seasons ever. Hopefully CK can do the same. Speed can win out over power most of the time in it’s relative ratio.
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Don’t get hurt.
That is all
August 22nd, 2026 at 2:59 pm
Nice!
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Hurt?
Did someone mention Mike Evans’ quad?
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:05 pm
I’ve seen it before, when they opened it last season, but everybody check out this brand new Buford, GA High School Football Stadium tonight (5:00 on ESPN2), before the Bucs-Chiefs Game… It’s is SO BADASS. Just imagine. About $70-MIL. There are bigger and better ones (mostly in TX, like Allen County’s, & etc. – there are a bunch), but this one here, is VERY NICE. State. Of. The. ART. It really is amazing. I DVR and watch ALL these games. There’s going to be a RIDICULOUS amount of talent in that game. But, the stadium is INSANE. It’s PERFECT. Just sooo beautiful. Monster Jumbotrons, Luxury Suites. You name it.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:16 pm
The game on right now, has Luke Bryan’s SON ( “Bo,” a 3-star, who looks like friggin’ Jaxson Dart) as the starting-QB for Battle Ground Academy, TN. Great interview with Luke Bryan on the sidelines, right before the game… He. Is. SO. PUMPED. They are playing against Phillip Rivers’s Team, and HIS SON (“Gunner” LoL, a 4-star/11th rated ‘pocket passer’ – of course, is heading to NC-State) is the opposing team’s QB. It’s CRAZY.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Kancey will look to remind us all that he’s a stud in his own right.
Can’t wait to watch our D-line get after it this year. We’re going to be wrecking sh$t
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Ballwasher61 … ‘A lot of times being a leaner solid player works way better than bulk’.
The interior of our DLine was too light we decided, so we added bulk in Robinson (320 lbs), RNR (305 lbs) and Capehart (315 lbs). Plus gave Vea (347 lbs) a nice fat raise. So to celebrate, Kancey goes on a diet and loses weight. Huh?
Calijah only weighed 280 lbs to start with … as a DT. Sure he’s quick, but in the interior he’s still facing 320-340 lb giants. Hmmm, I wonder if that had any impact on him missing 22 games in his thus-far short 3-year career?
The only way Kancey getting lighter makes any sense to me is if they’re gonna move him further outside in most formations. Not to OLB, but rather more like a DE in a 4-3 defense. Heck if he’s down to say 275 lbs now, that’s about the same as Nelson (271 lbs) or even Diaby (270 lbs). Personally though, I’m still not sold on him for the Bucs, and I was very surprised when we picked up his 5th-year option ($14.5 mil fully guaranteed).
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
I think he is insinuating that he got hurt alot for a reason. Too heavy? Poor conditioning for the NFL? Hopefully they figured it out for someone that talented.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:36 pm
I am baaaack
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:41 pm
This is the year for Kancey. Is he a true game changer or just a pass rush guy.
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Sounds like he’ll be playing on the edge more on 1st & 2nd down then sliding him inside on 3rd down
Something I’ve been begging for since last year
GO BUCS
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:47 pm
I remember wanting LB Jack Campbell…..and he goes the very pick before us…..(found all of this out later)….anyways, got Kancey, and he was off my radar completely, but i was impressed….now to just stay healthy please!
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:15 pm
so does this mean we no longer have the little fish (kancey) swimming next to the big fish (vita)…?
and we now have the goldfish swimming near the big fish…?
let’s hope he doesn’t turn into a guppie
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:38 pm
HC Grover Says:
August 22nd, 2026 at 3:36 pm
I am baaaack
Good, now go away!!!
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:52 pm
My dumb ass really thought he was gonna be just like Arron Donald only a little smaller is all. I really have not seen enough of him to try to decide if I want him as a Buc or not. This would be a great season just to see what he really has to give next to Vita,and is he really a number one pick or not. Stay healthy and stay hungry and earn that second contract please. I refuse to lose the faith I have in this guy!
August 22nd, 2026 at 4:55 pm
“Not to OLB, but rather more like a DE in a 4-3 defense.“
Wouldn’t be playing to his strength, he’s a gap shooting 3-tech.
You can trim down and loss mass while gaining muscle.
Aaron Donald played between 280-285 his whole career.
OLBs in our system are asked to do the same thing as 4-3 DEs
Watch the game tonight, when you see the NB or Safety walking to the box with our even front, that’s a simulated 4-3 alignment. We’ll never put a 3rd ILB on the field at the cost of our NB, but we will use it as a way to get a 3rd OLB in the grass.