The Bucs’ offseason is nearing the end as training camp is right around the corner for the team. The work of Jason Licht and his coaching staff is all but done, and the team is set for what could be the biggest season for the team since the arrival of Tom Brady.
To prepare for the aforementioned training camp, ESPN had all of its team beat reporters discuss the biggest surprises from each of their teams’ offseasons. When it came time for Jenna Laine to talk about Tampa Bay, she highlighted a position the team needs the most out of in 2025: linebacker.
Laine named youthful linebacker SirVocea Dennis as the team’s biggest surprise from OTAs and minicamp. She writes, “The Bucs only caught a glimpse of Dennis due to a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4, and the middle of the field was quite vulnerable last season as a result. But he had one of the most impressive offseasons of any Bucs defender.”
She goes on to explain that veteran linebacker and new Buc Anthony Walker Jr. gave the best reasoning for why the former Pitt Panther defender was deserving of praise for his work.
“‘First day of OTAs, made one of the best plays I’ve ever seen a linebacker make. . .’ Dennis moved across the field to jump a route on a Baker Mayfield pass for an interception. ‘He’s special, man. Very cerebral and knows the game very well. Can really do everything on the field as a pass dropper, a blitzer and a run defender. . .”
The Bucs did not draft a linebacker in April’s NFL Draft, which signaled the team’s belief in Dennis.
Jason Licht knows he may not have much left in the career of Lavonte David to enjoy, but SirVocea Dennis will be able to use the 2025 season as an audition to take over. Dennis’ progress could very much make or break the Bucs defense in 2025 and beyond, so being a surprise is a good start.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB given label of ‘biggest surprise’ from the offseason
Reporting by Andrew Harbaugh, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
