Bucs Gameday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Yaya Diaby Recognized With Rookie Award for 2023 Campaign

Diaby's efforts in 2023 put the football world on notice.

River Wells

Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby (0)
Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Yaya Diaby (0) / Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Yaya Diaby showed quite a bit of promise in his first year in the league.

Diaby was a third-round pick out of the University of Louisville, and although he didn't start on defense at the beginning of the year, he made sure to make his mark afterward. Diaby ended his freshman campaign in the NFL with 7.5 sacks, 38 combined tackles and a forced fumble — now, he's being recognized for his efforts.

Diaby was a participant at the Reese's Senior Bowl before the draft, and the Senior Bowl has now awarded him as Co-Defensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts in 2023. Diaby is sharing the award with former Tennessee Volunteers linebacker and current Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young.

Diaby's journey to this moment has been a long one. He initially played for Georgia Millitary College in Milledgeville, Georgia, for two years before transfering over to Louisville for the last two years of his college career. His best campaign there was his final one, in which he netted nine sacks and 37 combined tackles.

Diaby initially came in for Joe Tryon-Shoyinka later in the year, and he should be expected to start once again after his successful 2023 campaign. With the departure of Shaquil Barrett, though, the Bucs will be looking for another edge rusher to compliment him in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 offseason.

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River Wells
RIVER WELLS

River Wells is a sports journalist from St. Petersburg, Florida, who has covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2023. He graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Florida in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter @riverhwells.