Buccaneers draft Pro Bowler Ryan Jensen's doppelganger in second round
There's two redheads in Tampa Bay now.
The Buccaneers traded down two spots to beef up their offensive line with North Dakota State's Cody Mauch at pick No. 48 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Other than the missing front teeth, the 24-year-old tackle ironically looks similar to another big man he'll be playing alongside: Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen.
Jensen humorously welcomed his doppelganger to the team with a meme on Twitter.
Both Mauch and Jensen stand over 6-foot-3 and weigh around 310 pounds, but most noticeably share the incredible genes of long, luscious red hair.
In his post-draft interview, Mauch joked that the Bucs have a thing for "small-school guys" with "long red hair." Mauch said he's worked out with Jensen before and is "excited to play next to a guy like that."
But the Jensen praise from Mauch isn't anything new. While on "The Transfer Portal CFB" podcast in February, Mauch placed Jensen on his "Ginger Mount Rushmore."
Mauch might be the most interesting and immediately lovable guy in the entire draft. He grew up on a farm in North Dakota with seven siblings and learned "hard work at a young age." During a basketball game in seventh grade, Mauch got both his front teeth knocked out—a look he's since embraced.
In high school, Mauch played quarterback, tight end and defensive end and set records for both touchdown receptions and sacks. He was also an All-Conference basketball player and qualified for states in track and field.
Mauch picked tight end to begin his college career at NDSU, but eventually transitioned to a lineman after putting on nearly a hundred pounds.
Good luck getting to whoever's behind center for Tampa Bay this year.
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