Calijah Kancey Joins Impressive NFL Rookie Company

Former Pitt Panthers star Calijah Kancey is playing like one of the best defensive rookies in the NFL.

PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey's NFL career got off to a slow start as he dealt with a calf injury that kept him sidelined for the better part of the first half of the season. 

But over his last two games, Kancey has started to heat up and after back-to-back impressive games against the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, the former Pitt star is beginning to look like one of the better rookie defenders in the NFL. 

Kancey has recorded five tackles for loss - three against Houston and two against Tennesee - to move into second among rookies in tackles for loss this season with six, trailing only Tuli Tiupuloto who has seven. And Kancey has done it in just 5.5 games while Tiupuloto has appeared in nine. 

Kancey is also the first NFL rookie with multiple tackles for loss in consecutive games since Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons and the Dolphins' Jaelen Phillips both did it in 2021. 

The Buccaneers took Kancey with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and had to wait a while to see him really start to make an impact. But now healthy, Kancey is playing like the blue-chip prospect that was promised. 

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