Bucs linebacker Nick Jackson, second from right, celebrates with teammates after he intercepts a pass thrown by Titans quarterback Brandon Allen during the third quarter of Saturday night's preseason game.
Bucs linebacker Nick Jackson, second from right, celebrates with teammates after he intercepts a pass thrown by Titans quarterback Brandon Allen during the third quarter of Saturday night's preseason game.
TAMPA — Just because they didn’t have their names called during the NFL draft doesn’t mean they won’t make coaches and fans remember them.
Nick Jackson is one of those unheralded players who stood out in Saturday’s 29-7 preseason over the Titans. The former Iowa and Virginia star led the Bucs with six tackles, including two for a loss, a sack, interception and quarterback hit.
His pick came from a deflected pass by former Nebraska linebacker John Bullock, who had two tackles and two passes defensed.
“I thought they both played with a lot of poise,” head coach Todd Bowles said of his rookie linebackers. “... I’ve got to really see how they played on special teams. That will be big for them going forward. The veterans we signed are probably going to be here, and we’re looking for a young guy to keep and bring along, too, as well as possibly one for the practice squad. I thought those guys had a good showing for the first time out.”
The Bucs struggled last season at inside linebacker after SirVocea Dennis was lost for the season after a Week 4 shoulder injury.
In the offseason, Tampa Bay signed veteran linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. and Deion Jones. But Walker has been held out of training camp with a lower leg injury, giving players such as Jackson and Bullock more looks.
“(I am) just a guy who loves to ball,” Jackson said. ”I really just think that that’s the moral of the story. I love being out there, I love competing, I love playing down-in, down-out, special teams, anything on the field. I just love the game — I’ve just been playing since I was 5, (so) it was a childhood dream come true. It doesn’t even feel real right now. ... I can’t put it really into words.”
Jackson’s pick was just a reaction to the tipped pass that he caught with one hand, demonstrating his instincts.
“I was just like, ‘Woah, I’ve got it,’ ” he said. “I just saw the ball and stuck my hand out there. That was all God right there, getting me the ball right there. You know, big play by John Bullock — he got his hands up on the ball, so it helicoptered the ball, and it just landed in my hands. The play doesn’t happen without him.”
Bowles said the 6-foot, 235-pound Jackson was a player they’ve had their eye on as soon as he reported to camp and wasn’t surprised he made plays Saturday.
“He was a football player from the time he came in here,” Bowles said. “He was somebody we wanted to see, we wanted to watch, and we were paying close attention to him. He just knows the game. He knows how to play the game. He’s very instinctive, he can read things, he’s physical when he needs to be physical and he knows how to cover.”
There were other undrafted free agents who dressed and impressed Saturday:
Shilo Sanders, safety
![Bucs safety Shilo Sanders is hyped after he makes a tackle against the Titans during the fourth quarter.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 413"/%3E)
Bucs safety Shilo Sanders is hyped after he makes a tackle against the Titans during the fourth quarter.
The less famous Sanders son immediately got a hit on Titans quarterback Brandon Allen. Although admittedly nervous, maybe more so than his brother, Browns quarterback Shedeur, Sanders navigated through that and looked comfortable in his first NFL game.
“I’m not going to lie, the first few plays, I was like, ‘Sheesh.’ It’s just so different,’ ” Sanders said. “It’s the NFL now, it’s not college. The Buccaneers, the NFL. That was a shock at first. I feel like it was similar to Shedeur. ... When he started getting his feet wet, he got a little bit more comfortable. That’s how I felt. Then you just fly around and make plays.”
Bowles was impressed with Sanders’ first NFL action.
“Shilo played tough,” Bowles said. “I thought he went in and did a heck of a job. He had some good tackles inside and he had a pressure on the quarterback as well. He did some good coverage things. He did a good job when he was in there.”
Roman Parodie, CB
The undrafted free agent from Ohio had the kind of game you dream about. He intercepted a pass from Tim Boyle and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown.
The Bucs had only seven picks last season, fifth fewest in the NFL. “It was good to see them carry it over from practice and the game,” Bowles said. “It’s a good start.”
Owen Wright, RB
The undrafted rookie from William & Mary and Monmouth had two touchdown runs called back due to penalty. But he stuck with it and stuck the football in the end zone. Wright led the Bucs with 87 yards on 18 carries.
Rachaad White left the game in the first half with groin strain and could miss some time, giving a longer look to Wright. Bowles said they would likely know more about White’s outlook Monday.
Up next
at Steelers, 7 Saturday, Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh TV/radio: WFLA-Ch. 8; 97.9-FM
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