Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey was just selected 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kancey became the second defensive tackle off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft after Georgia's Jalen Carter went 9th overall to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kancey is now the 27th all-time first round pick in Pitt history, and the second to play under current head coach Pat Narduzzi. He joins Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 first round pick Kenny Pickett as the first duo from Pitt to go in the first round in back-to-back years for the first time since 2008. Kancey is now also the fourth-ever Pitt defensive tackle to be taken in the first round and the first since Aaron Donald was picked by the St. Louis Rams with the 13th pick in 2014.

Pitt's pass rush was anchored by Kancey in each of the past two seasons as he racked up accolade after accolade. He was a first-team All-ACC pick in 2021 and took it to another level this past season. Kancey racked up 14.5 tackles for loss and also 7.5 sacks in 11 games played. He collected the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award for his play, but his recognition went well above that.

Kancey became the 13th player in Pitt history to achieve unanimous All-American status, and the first to do so since Donald. There was never a doubt about Kancey as a college football player, as he was truly an elite presence as a defensive linemen, but some had questions about his future as a pro.

Kancey is on the smaller side for his position, but uses his quickness off the ball to create havoc in the backfield. He is not a run stuffer as many defensive tackles are, but few interior players possess his quickness as a pass rusher. Kancey ran a 4.67 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the best time for a defensive tackle in 20 years at the scouting event.

The optimism around Kancey's NFL future is somewhat tied to the success of Aaron Donald. The Rams star and former Pitt great has proven over the last ten years that smaller defensive tackles can make big impacts. Because of the position that they play and where they went to school, Kancey has taken on a lot of comparisons to the future hall of fame player.

Kancey is the first Pitt player off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft, but there are more hopefuls waiting in the wings with the final six rounds set to commence over the next two days. Israel Abanikanda, Brandon Hill, SirVocea Dennis, and more are all hoping to join Kancey in hearing their name called this weekend.