CONTRIBUTED BY ETSU ATHLETICS

JOHNSON CITY – Late Saturday night, ETSU’s very own Nasir Player (Columbia, S.C.) signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The South Carolina native marks just the sixth Buccaneer in program history to sign an NFL contract and the first since Gerald Sensabaugh in 2005. Player will now officially hang up the Blue & Gold to don the Tampa Bay Black & Red and transition from playing on Saturdays to competing on Sundays.

Player received four All-American nods following the conclusion of the 2019 campaign. The All-SoCon First Team honoree finished the season with 45 tackles, including 24 solo.

The redshirt-senior led the Bucs with 10 tackles for loss, marking the third consecutive season that he finished with double-digit tackles for loss.

Player also tallied 4.5 sacks for the Bucs, leading the squad in sacks on the season. In the Bucs home opening game against Shorter on Sept. 7, Player recovered his first career fumble in the 48-10 win over the Hawks. Player also registered a season-high seven tackles against Shorter, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

The South Carolina native posted five or more tackles in four of the 12 games played.

The decorative career for the South Carolina native finished with the fifth-most tackles for loss in ETSU history with 40. Player appeared in 43 games throughout his career, starting in 40 of those outings.

Player capped off his career with seven All-American honors, was a three-time First Team All-SoCon honoree, two-time Buck Buchanan Watch List, 182 tackles (97 solo), 18.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.

“I am very proud of Nasir for further advancing his playing career by signing with Tampa Bay,” stated ETSU Football Head Coach Randy Sanders. “When I first saw him on the field, I could tell he was a special player.

“Nasir came to practice every day with the intention of getting better and never settling. This is a true testament of the hard work he has put in, on and off the field.”