Writing The Ship: Week Four Buccaneers College Watch Guide

It feels like the ship is sinking right now. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0-2 and are fresh off a loss to the Cleveland Browns. We are getting dangerously close to being full on into draft season.

However, even if the Bucs were 2-0, I would still have my eyes on the draft. Scouts are getting their eyes on prospects as the new college football season is under way. Here are three prospects that I think they’ll be watching this week in this week’s writing the ship: week four.

Kade Pieper

The Buccaneers have a strong offensive line. However, with both guards potentially being in their final season in Tampa, this is one position the team should be looking closely at. Pieper is one of the best that this draft has to offer.

His mobility is excellent. He gets into his opponents pads very quickly and he can get to his spot and make blocks down the line and at the second level. With a team that likes to run a lot of outside zone (which the Bucs do right now) I believe that Pieper will be a great player. 

This weekend Pieper and his Iowa Hawkeyes will play Michigan. This will be a good matchup as Michigan has had one of the better defenses in college football so far this year. It’s a chance for Pieper to continue to shine and solidify himself as a top 50 player. 

Will Echoles

This is one of my favorite prospects for this coming draft. Echoles is a powerful and athletic defensive tackle. On top of that he is one of the highest motor effort players that I’ve watched this year’s class.

Echoles has good hands which makes him a good pass rusher. He’s also more powerful than his 300 lbs size might indicate. We know A’Shawn Robinson is on a one year deal, so this would make an ideal successor along the defensive line.

This weekend Echoles and Ole Miss will play Florida. This has a bit of an unstoppable force meeting an unmovable object feel as Florida has a really good rushing offense led by running back Jaden Baugh. It’s strength on strength in this game and that makes for prime time viewing. 

LaNorris Sellers

Let’s face it, Baker Mayfeild has been bad this year. And while that does not mean his career in Tampa is over, it has led me to thinking about potential solutions down the line. Not one who can start next year (because Mayfield is under contract for two more seasons after this one) but rather someone who is more of a high upside developmental guy.

Sellers has all the talent in the world. He’s probably a year away from being a year away to step into the league and play. Sit him all of next year and get him ready to take over in 2028.

This week we get to see the South Carolina quarterback go against Southeastern Conference power Alabama. It’s a chance for Sellers to show what he can do against top tier competition. And for a guy who is looking to prove that he can be a franchise quarterback, this is an opportunity that really matters for him.

As a foot note, I’m not sure that I believe that the Bucs will be watching Sellers or any quarterback closely this weekend. It is too early to give up on Mayfield, especially after giving him an extension. However, if the season continues to go the way it’s going for him then don’t be surprised if this is one of the games that the team will spend a lot of time watching on film.