Buccaneers WR Mike Evans Shares Thoughts on Tez Johnson and Emeka Egbuka

Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans shared his initial thoughts on rookie sensation Tez Johnson, who’s made a strong impression in training camp with his electrifying plays, defying concerns about his 5-foot-10, 154-pound frame.

“That’s my guy, man,” Evans said about Johnson. “With the ball in his hands, crazy athlete. He catches the ball really well for a smaller guy, fast guy. Because a lot of smaller guys, they don’t have the best hands, but he has really good hands.”

With the chance to learn from NFL great Evans, who’s thriving as a veteran leader, Johnson has a valuable opportunity for growth. Evans recently made a bold statement about the Buccaneers’ receivers room heading into this season.

“A lot of talent, a lot of talent, a lot of humble guys, a lot of guys that put in the work. And like I said earlier in the offseason, this is definitely one of the most talented, if not the most talented receiver group I’ve been a part of. And I look forward to doing my part this year.” Evans stated.

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Evans also shared his thoughts on Johnson’s fellow rookie receiver, Emeka Egbuka, offering a glimpse into his opinion of the young talent.

“I’ve seen what expected to see from Emeka, already a true professional. He’s going to be an unbelievable playmaker and have a great career in his league.”

Emeka Egbuka, a standout from Ohio State, was drafted 19th overall by the Buccaneers in April, while Johnson, a former Oregon star, was picked in the seventh round (235th overall). Despite being drafted at different spots, the two rookies have quickly formed a connection, often exchanging lighthearted jabs as former rivals from the Big Ten conference.

“I mean, obviously I wanted to win the Rose Bowl, but we came up short,” Johnson stated. “So we’re gonna go back to the Rose Bowl this year, and if it’s Ohio State, we’re gonna come at Jeremiah Smith.”

Egbuka fired back at Johnson’s claim.
“He talks about it every day. I don’t know what’s up with that,” Egbuka said with a smile. “Nah, me and Tez are building a super close relationship, probably too close. He’s my roommate right now so I hear him snore every night. It’s going well.”

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Tez Johnson seems to be settling in nicely with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, showcasing not only his skills on the field but also his humorous personality off it.

Buccaneers Assistant General Manager Rob McCartney announced in April that he has a specific role mapped out for receiver Tez Johnson, who will compete with second-year return specialist Kameron Johnson for playing time. However, it’s worth noting that the Kameron Johnson mentioned might not be the exact same person as the one in McCartney’s statement, as there’s limited information available about a Kameron Johnson in the Buccaneers’ current roster. According to reports, Tez Johnson is expected to compete as a returner immediately with Kameron Johnson.

“There’s not a lot of guys that have cracked it under 160 (pounds), but you’ve got Tutu Atwell, you’ve got a guy like Tank Dell,” McCartney stated about Johnson. “He doesn’t play 4.5 (Johnson’s 40-yard dash time at the combine.) He plays a lot faster. There’s a lot of instances when he’s the fastest player on the field. There’s multiple games that I thought he was the best player on the field too.”