Yaya Diaby: Bucs’ Defense Will 'Wake A Lot Of People Up'

Over the past weekend, the 2024 Senior Bowl Hall of Fame class was announced, and Bucs outside linebacker Yaya Diaby was one of the attendees who earned some hardware. Diaby was named as one of three Rookie of the Year winners, alongside Rams outside linebacker Byron Young and wide receiver Puka Nacua.

After bursting onto the scene as a third-round pick last year with 7.5 sacks, Diaby remains hungry heading into his second season as Tampa Bay’s leading pass rusher. At the Senior Bowl ceremony, he spoke to NFL.com’s Rhett Lewis and believes that he and the Bucs’ defense are going to make some noise this season.

Yaya Diaby Shares Who He Is Excited To Play On Bucs’ Defense

While the outside linebacker position has been viewed as a weak link on defense, the Bucs have flooded the position with youth over the past couple of seasons, from Yaya Diaby, Jose Ramirez, and Markees Watts last year to Chris Braswell this offseason.

Although the Bucs lost Shaq Barrett over the offseason, Tampa Bay is hopeful that one of the young pass rushers emerges to take over the other starting spot at some point.

Diaby was quick to mention all of the guys he is excited to line up with this upcoming season, and while he leads a room that’s mixed with veterans and relative inexperience, that has not stopped the team’s leading sacker last year from being optimistic about the defense’s outlook.

“It’s great, man, having guys like Calijah [Kancey] with me, you got Logan Hall, even Vita [Vea] – he’s a vet, but you know you’ve got to love Vita,” Diaby said. “You’ve got Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka], and all the young guys, and we just got Chris Braswell, and it’s just awesome, man. I just feel like a lot of people are asleep on Tampa’s defense, but I feel like this year, we’re going to really wake a lot of people up.”

With Vea and Kancey helping out up front, it is going to make life easier for the rest of the front seven to generate pressure, Diaby and the rest of the outside linebackers included. Having head coach Todd Bowles dial up different blitz packages will also help the unit keep opposing offenses off balance.

Diaby is charged with leading the efforts, and a full second season could wake a lot of people up with the talent he possesses.

Yaya Diaby Is Excited To See The Field More In 2024

Yaya Diaby only started seven games as a rookie, not doing so until Week 12. With a full second year as a starter, he has been working on improving his build and believes he has benefited from learning more about the defense and what is expected from him.

“I’m super excited, man, for me I changed my body up, so I can be able to play more snaps and be in more,” Diaby said. “And just for me, it’s the growth I’m seeing in myself from OTAs these past couple of weeks, just being able to pick up on things.

“Last year I was in my head a lot, being a rookie and not knowing a lot and being in Coach (Todd) Bowles’ defense. That’s a lot for a rookie to come in and take on. So going into Year 2, I’m super confident, and just talking about it gets me excited, because of how ready I am to go.”

Opponents should be worried that Diaby looks bigger and better heading into year two. With double-digit sacks being at the top of his goals entering this season, it very much could become a reality.