The best Bucs linebackers of all time had one thing in common – a high football I.Q.

Derrick Brooks, Lavonte David, Hardy Nickerson and Shelton Quarles could all see the play develop in their minds before the ball was even snapped. Tampa Bay saw the same cerebral trait in Pitt middle linebacker SirVocea Dennis and drafted him in the fifth-round last year because of that – and his playmaking ability.

Devin White, a five-year starter at middle linebacker in Todd Bowles’ defense, had more athleticism than instincts and intellect. He wasn’t re-signed and is now with Philadelphia, which leaves a vacancy in the heart of Tampa Bay’s defense.

K.J. Britt, who is in a contract year as he enters his fourth season, is White’s projected replacement, but he’ll get competition from Dennis this offseason in addition to practice squader J.J. Russell. Dennis spent much of his rookie season playing special teams, where he notched six tackles, until the end of the year when he filled in for an injured David in the fourth quarter at San Francisco and got his first NFL start the next week at Indianapolis.

The former Pitt star held his own during his first NFL action on defense, but didn’t really make many plays, either. He finished his first season in Tampa Bay with 13 tackles on defense and one pass breakup. Dennis gave an honest assessment of his play in an interview with Pewter Report back in late January.

“It was cool, but I could have done better,” Dennis said. “I just had to get my feet wet. I’m looking to execute better the next time out.”

Dennis would have had the chance to start against against Carolina in Week 13, but got sick with flu-like symptoms and couldn’t practice or play that week, which was unfortunate case of bad luck. But watching the Panthers game from the sideline after playing the previous week against the Colts allowed Dennis to see the game from a whole perspective.

When he wasn’t on the field, Dennis, who goes by the nickname “Voss,” was in the film room studying both the Mike and Money linebacker positions. You see, Dennis is a film junkie – just like Todd Bowles likes his linebackers to be.

“In my college days I was always watching Lavonte,” Dennis said. “That was a no-brainer. Fred [Warner] of course, and Bobby [Wagner], who has another feel for the game that is uncanny. I also studied Roquan [Smith]. He understands the game as well.

“Another guy is young in Zaire Franklin, who went to Syracuse. He’s with the Colts. He was the leading tackler in the NFL for a while. They just know the game like the back of their hand. That comes with playing time and experience, but you also have to know your defense.”

The Bucs have a pretty good video library of their own linebackers for young players like Dennis to watch.

“So when I got here last year they showed us everyone’s film – Lavonte David’s rookie film, Q’s (Shelton Quarles) film and Derrick Brooks’ film,” Dennis said.

Larry Foote, the Bucs inside linebackers coach, was a former NFL linebacker himself and has been a great resource for Dennis to learn from. Dennis also has the experience of being on the practice field with David and being in the cafeteria picking the brain of Quarles, who is Tampa Bay’s director of football operations.

“Q is an old vet, so it’s mostly like, ‘Save your money, protect your mind’ – things like that from that standpoint,” Dennis said. “So in this building I’ve got Q, Coach Foote and I have Lavonte to learn from. I have three levels of linebackers, and I just pick everything I can from each one of them.”

Tampa Bay has had a couple of linebackers in for Top 30 visits prior to the draft, including Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper, Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Kentucky’s Trevin Wallace. Bucs general manager Jason Licht didn’t rule out drafting a replacement for White this year, but also believes in Dennis’ ability to develop into a future starter.

“Last year, we took ‘Voss’ and we really like ‘Voss,’” Licht said. “We think ‘Voss’ has a really bright future, so we took some steps to hopefully take care of that [need] in the future, but I’m hoping Lavonte plays another seven years, to be honest with you.”

SirVocea Dennis Is A Perfect Fit In Todd Bowles’ Defense
SirVocea Dennis made an instant impact during Tampa Bay’s rookie mini-camp last year by recording a pick-six just minutes into his first NFL practice. He did that twice more during the OTAs with the veterans present, and then had another pick-six during training camp.

Those were some incredible plays from a linebacker who was drafted more for his blitzing prowess than his coverage ability. As a three-year starter at Pitt, Dennis recorded 36 tackles for loss and 15 sacks, including seven during his senior year.

Yet Dennis did have a pair of picks in his college career, including a pick-six during his junior year. The former Pitt Panthers star loves Todd Bowles’ scheme and the important role that his linebackers play in it.

“This defense gives you a chance to be more of a linebacker,” Dennis said. “The system I was in at Pitt hindered me and kept me in a certain box. Now I have the chance to show my other abilities. He has me blitzing or covering one-on-one with a back or one-on-one with a tight end.

“It’s fun. You do a lot of things in this defense. You do everything you wish you could do as a traditional, normal linebacker and do it playing fast. That’s what he loves from his linebackers – play fast and smart.”

A lackluster showing against Pittsburgh in the preseason opener, which Dennis attributed to a case of the rookie nerves, and a hamstring injury in that game halted Dennis’ momentum in the month of August. That injury caused him to miss the final two preseason games, where he would have played a lot of meaningful snaps.

When he was healthy enough, Dennis was relegated to special teams with Devin White and Lavonte David manning the starting linebacker positions.

“They’re both two different linebackers, but also kind of similar,” Dennis said. “I tried to take some things from those guys, but also keep my game in it. Devin is a great blitzer. He’s hell on wheels and runs with his hair on fire. He flies around and makes plays.

“Lavonte is the same way, but he’s also the cover guy. He likes to cover and play mind games with the quarterback. I’m trying to implement things from their game into my game, but also keep my identity. I’ve been learning both positions – Mike and Mo – and I would say that I got equal time at both.”

Bucs defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who was the team’s first-round pick last year, played alongside Dennis for three years at Pitt. He witnessed Dennis growth during his rookie year firsthand.

“He made a lot of improvements,” Kancey said. “Being able to [get] some snaps [on defense] later on in the season, but also being there for us on special teams. I think he’ll be a great addition to the defense this year.

“He’s smart and he’s relentless. He wants to go out there and make a play. He wants to win the rep. He wants to win.”

SirVocea Dennis Set To Challenge For The Starting Bucs ILB Job

With Devin White gone, SirVocea Dennis has a chance to emerge as a starter if he can beat out K.J. Britt. If it doesn’t happen this year, it could happen in 2025 as Britt and David will be free agents and both the Mike and Mo linebacker spots could be vacant.

“It was the same way for me in college my freshman year, I came in [redshirted] and then hit the field for three years as a starter,” Dennis said. “That definitely prepared me for my rookie year. Just stay ready and know that I’m one play away. Then just soak in what I can from the guys ahead of me. Just be focused and stay locked in and if my number is called be ready.”

With a year’s worth of learning Bowles’ intricate defense under his belt, there is a good chance that Dennis can pick up where he left off in OTAs last year, when he was making several splash plays. If he can build some momentum and carry it into training camp while staying healthy, Dennis could give Britt some serious competition for the right to replace White and line up next to David.

“It’s definitely a chess game before the play even starts, which is cool, which is fine for a cerebral guy like me,” Dennis said. “It’s a chess game for us – and it’s a different language for our opponent to try to figure out. It’s fun playing in this defense. It’s great, but it’s tough. You have to stay on your toes at all times. But I’ll be ready next time my number is called.”