The Buccaneers have added an intriguing talent to their offseason roster. Greg Auman of TampaBay.com reports that the team has signed linebacker Jeff Knox to a reserve/futures contract.
Knox has been a standout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL over the past two seasons. As a rookie in 2015, the linebacker compiled 112 tackles, breaking a team-record set by current Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman. Knox finished 2016 with 84 tackles, including 19 on special teams.
The 24-year-old started his collegiate career at Pittsburgh, but he was dismissed from the team following an arrest for assault. As Auman notes, the linebacker later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault. Knox then caught on with Division II California University of Pennsylvania, where he compiled 7.5 sacks as a senior in 2014.
Auman notes that Knox will certainly have an uphill battle when it comes to making the roster. However, the Buccaneers are rather thin at linebacker, which could bode well for his chances. As Roster Resource shows, the Bucs ended the season with only four linebackers on their roster in Daryl Smith, Kwon Alexander, Lavonte David, and Adarius Glanton.
This is the second CFL player the Buccaneers have signed this month. The organization signed wideout Derel Walker to a reserve/futures contract in early January.
As someone who’s from Canada and favorite team is Saskatchewan the Bucs are getting a great leader, big hitter and talented LB.
care to explain how he went from 112 tackles to 65? (when you minus special teams)
Because the riders got a new coach and he barely used him.