Former Miami Hurricanes star has a strong NFL debut for the Bucs, and it could help decide a major roster battle brewing in Tampa Bay
The Bucs’ fourth-round pick had a solid showing.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a number of roster questions to answer during the month of August, and who will man one of the boundary cornerback spots is one of them.
With Jamel Dean off to Pittsburgh in free agency, the Bucs will turn to either Jacob Parrish or Benjamin Morrison for the starting spot opposite Zyon McCollum. Unfortunately, for much of training camp, Morrison was limited with a hamstring injury, which is the story of his time in Tampa Bay. That’s helped Parrish earn the starting nod on the team’s first unofficial depth chart of the preseason.
Parrish was outstanding as the team’s nickel corner last season as a rookie, so if he moves to the boundary, having a quality option to replace him would be optimal and would help facilitate that move. And it looks like they might have that in Miami Hurricanes rookie Keionte Scott, who the team drafted in the fourth round.
In his first professional action on Friday night against the Jets, he did not disappoint.
Former Miami CB Keionte Scott has strong debut for the Bucs against the Jets
Scott saw the field on 17 coverage snaps, and he allowed just five receiving yards when targeted. He also called game late in the fourth quarter. New York quarterback Brady Cook lobbed a ball into the end zone on fourth down with under a minute and a half left, and Scott broke it up to keep Tampa Bay ahead in the Bucs’ 24-16 win.
Scott had offseason wrist surgery following a tremendous senior year in Coral Gables for the Miami Hurricanes. His pick six was the seminal moment in Miami’s 24-14 College Football Playoff quarterfinal win over Ohio State and was the play that helped launch them all the way to the national championship game.
He didn’t slow down once he reached training camp to date, making plays and proving he belongs in consideration for an early role in Todd Bowles’ defense. As much as the Bucs play nickel (around 62% of the time last year), it’s an important role to fill.
There are still two preseason games left to play, but it looks like the former Hurricane is going to fit in just fine — and quickly — in Tampa Bay.
