BuccaneersFan.com • Player Spotlight • Tampa Bay No. 23
Current official roster portrait: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Safety • Third NFL season
From Philadelphia to the Bucs’ secondary
Tykee Quideir Smith
- Born
- February 18, 2001 • Age 25
- Hometown
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Listed size
- 5 feet 10 inches • 202 pounds
- High school
- Imhotep Institute Charter High School • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- College
- West Virginia • 2019–2020
Georgia • 2021–2023 - NFL entry
- 2024 • Round 3 • Pick 89 • Tampa Bay
- Buccaneers career
- 2024–present
- Jersey
- No. 23
- Current status
- Active roster • As of November 3, 2026
Birthdate: 2026 Buccaneers media guide. Background: Georgia player biography. Current listing: official Buccaneers profile and current roster.
Milestone sources: original draft announcement, Georgia background and the original college and NFL records below. The championship count describes team membership.
Tykee Smith said he signed himself up to play football at age 12. The Philadelphia youngster eventually found his way to Morgantown, where he had to adjust to a different pace of life as well as college football. His account of the beginning. Years later, arriving in Tampa Bay from Georgia, he described another learning process: recognizing familiar defensive ideas while mastering new terminology. Smith on preparing for the NFL.
Philadelphia • West Virginia • Georgia
Two college chapters, one NFL destination
The Philadelphia foundation Imhotep Institute Charter High School.
Smith played on both sides of the ball at Imhotep. He described taking running back, receiver and wildcat assignments to help his team. By college, his focus was defense. Smith on his high-school roles.
A Mountaineer beginning West Virginia, 2019–2020.
West Virginia gave Smith his first college home. He described the move from Philadelphia to Morgantown as a substantial change in daily life, and the university’s account explained the varied coverage and run responsibilities in his Spear role. That job demanded more than lining up in one spot and waiting for the ball. The original Mountaineers interview.
Athens and the return to the lineup Georgia, 2021–2023.
Smith transferred to Georgia in 2021 and was part of the Bulldogs’ 2021 and 2022 national-championship teams. The Georgia biography. His first season was limited to one appearance, at Auburn. The original 2021 participation chart. He went on to a larger role in the secondary and earned conference recognition in his final Georgia season.
A Buccaneer with players to study Tampa Bay, 2024–present.
The Buccaneers selected Smith 89th overall in Round 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft. The original draft announcement. During his first training camp, he discussed studying Antoine Winfield Jr., Tyrann Mathieu and Budda Baker, as well as learning from coach Nick Rapone. He was looking closely at how accomplished defensive backs handled their responsibilities. The rookie’s account of his influences.
Recognition along the way
National recognition at West Virginia FWAA honors in consecutive seasons.
Smith earned FWAA Freshman All-America recognition in 2019. West Virginia’s player record. In 2020, the Football Writers Association of America selected him to its second-team All-America defense. The university’s contemporary award announcement.
An honored final season in Athens Georgia, 2023.
Smith earned coaches’ second-team All-SEC recognition and CBS second-team All-America honors in 2023, adding to the national recognition he had received at West Virginia. The university’s honors record.
October 25, 2026 • Tampa Bay at Carolina
An interception and a blocked extra point
Two phases • Two impact plays
1 + 1
INTERCEPTION + BLOCKED EXTRA POINT
Buccaneers 43 • Panthers 13
Smith made the block. McCollum made the two-point return.
With 9:09 left in the second quarter at Carolina, Smith blocked Ryan Fitzgerald’s extra-point attempt. Zyon McCollum recovered and returned the ball for two points, moving Tampa Bay’s lead from 17–6 to 19–6. Smith earned the block credit; McCollum earned the return score. Scoring sequence and the Buccaneers’ play highlight.
Smith struck again with 9:03 remaining in the third quarter, intercepting a Bryce Young pass intended for John Metchie after Keionte Scott’s deflection. The return gained zero yards, but the possession changed hands. The original interception play and the team’s interception highlight.
Tampa Bay • 2024–present
Tampa Bay in 2026
Smith is listed on the Active roster as Tampa Bay’s No. 23 safety as of November 3, 2026. The current Buccaneers roster.
After working primarily at nickel as a rookie, he moved to safety in 2025. Todd Bowles subsequently described safety as Smith’s long-term position. Bowles on the position change. The Week 9 depth chart continues to list him as a starting safety. The November 3 depth chart.
The person behind No. 23
Beyond the stat sheet
At Georgia, Smith studied sociology. The university’s academic listing. Away from the practice field, he also brought a familiar Philadelphia sporting background with him. In a 2022 interview, he discussed growing up with the Eagles and 76ers and the different feeling of watching a hometown team win compared with being part of Georgia’s championship team. The original Georgia conversation.
A controller after practice Interests he shared in 2022.
Smith named Madden, NBA 2K and Call of Duty among the games he played with friends and teammates. He also recalled playing basketball while growing up. Smith on his time away from football.
Meeting Tampa Bay beyond the stadium A visit with the rookie class.
On November 19, 2024, Smith joined fellow Buccaneers rookies for a visit to Moffitt to meet patients and visit its Child Development Center. Moffitt’s account of the visit.
NFL regular season • Career through 2026
The NFL career record
These regular-season records cover 2024–2026. The asterisk marks the incomplete 2026 season, through November 1, Week 8. Preseason is excluded. All regular-season appearances shown here came with Tampa Bay.
| Season | G | GS | DEF Solo | DEF Ast | DEF TKL | ST TKL | TFL | QB hits | Sacks | Sack YDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 6 | 37 | 16 | 53 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 | 16 | 16 | 61 | 39 | 100 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2.0 | 18.0 |
| 2026* | 8 | 8 | 22 | 21 | 43 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| NFL career | 37 | 30 | 120 | 76 | 196 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 2.0 | 18.0 |
G = games played; GS = starts; DEF = defense; ST = special teams. DEF Solo + DEF Ast = DEF TKL. Special-teams tackles are separate. TFL includes sacks; QB hits and Sack YDS retain their original categories.
Completed-season sources: 2024 defense in the 2025 guide, PDF p. 228, 2024 special teams, PDF p. 288 and 2025 final team defense in the 2026 guide, PDF p. 278. Participation: career games and starts, PDF p. 218.
The original 2024 Detroit final report corroborates the rookie special-teams tackle. The original December 2025 Carolina final report preserves the pass-defense and QB-hit credits used in the complete 2025 totals.
| Season | PD | INT | INT YDS | INT AVG | INT LNG | INT TD | FF | Opp FR | FR YDS | FR TD | Own FR | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026* | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| NFL career | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
PD = passes defensed, including interceptions; FF = forced fumbles. Opp FR and Own FR distinguish recovered opponent and teammate fumbles. FR YDS and FR TD describe opponent-fumble returns. INT AVG is yards divided by interceptions; INT LNG is the longest return.
BLK = blocked kicks. The Carolina return score belongs to McCollum. Smith has no regular-season safety or interception-return/fumble-return touchdown through the cutoff.
NFL postseason
| Season | Date | Round | Opponent | TB result | G | GS | DEF Solo | DEF Ast | DEF TKL | ST TKL | DEF snaps | ST snaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Jan 12, 2025 | NFC Wild Card | Washington | L 20–23 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 60 | 0 |
| NFL postseason | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 60 | 0 |
This reserve appearance is separate from the regular-season career. Smith played 60 defensive snaps despite not being listed in the starting lineup. Snap counts come from the gamebook’s unofficial playtime report.
The final report credits no TFL, QB hit, sack, pass defensed, interception, forced or recovered fumble, blocked kick or safety in this game. Original report: participation and score, defensive credits and playtime. Tampa Bay did not reach the playoffs after the 2025 season.
September 13–November 1, 2026
Eight starts through Week 8
| Week | Date | Opponent | TB result | G | GS | DEF Solo | DEF Ast | DEF TKL | ST TKL | TFL | QB hits | PD | INT | FF | BLK | DEF snaps | ST snaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 13 | @CIN | L 27–33 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 7 |
| 2 | Sep 20 | CLE | L 19–23 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 5 |
| 3 | Sep 27 | MIN | L 16–23 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 5 |
| 4 | Oct 4 | GB | L 14–17 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 59 | 3 |
| 5 | Oct 8 | @DAL | W 24–16 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 2 |
| 6 | Oct 18 | PIT | L 19–26 OT | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 7 |
| 7 | Oct 25 | @CAR | W 43–13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 51 | 2 |
| 8 | Nov 1 | ATL | W 16–0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 1 |
| 2026 total | Through Nov 1 | Tampa Bay | — | 8 | 8 | 22 | 21 | 43 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 466 | 32 |
Smith started all eight team games. The original final defensive reports supply the tackle and impact credits. The gamebooks’ unofficial playtime reports total 466 defensive snaps and 32 special-teams snaps.
The Week 7 block was an extra-point block; it is not an interception, fumble recovery or Smith scoring return. NFL defensive and special-teams tackle credits remain separate throughout the tables.
Results are from Tampa Bay’s perspective; @ = away; OT = overtime. CIN = Cincinnati; CLE = Cleveland; MIN = Minnesota; GB = Green Bay; DAL = Dallas; PIT = Pittsburgh; CAR = Carolina; ATL = Atlanta.
Original final gamebooks: Week 1 · Week 2 · Week 3 · Week 4 · Week 5 · Week 6 · Week 7 · Week 8.
West Virginia • Georgia • 2019–2023
The college record
Smith played at West Virginia in 2019–2020 and Georgia in 2021–2023. All five actual playing seasons are retained, including his one-game 2021 season. Both programs compete in NCAA Division I FBS; actual postseason games are included annually.
| Season | School | G | GS | Solo | Ast | TKL | TFL | TFL YDS | Sacks | Sack YDS | QB hurries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | West Virginia | 12 | 8 | 36 | 17 | 53 | 2.5 | 11 | 1.0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020 | West Virginia | 10 | 9 | 33 | 28 | 61 | 8.0 | 23 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Georgia | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Georgia | 14 | 4 | 22 | 6 | 28 | 2.5 | 11 | 2.0 | 10 | 4 |
| 2023 | Georgia | 14 | 12 | 46 | 24 | 70 | 8.5 | 28 | 2.0 | 15 | 2 |
| College career | Both schools | 51 | 33 | 140 | 75 | 215 | 21.5 | 73 | 5.0 | 32 | 6 |
G = games played; GS = starts; Solo + Ast = TKL. TFL includes sacks; TFL YDS and Sack YDS record credited yards lost. Half-tackles and shared sacks are retained. QB hurries follow the original statistical reports; separately charted coach-film pressures are a different measure.
Original defensive records: 2019 final defense, PDF p. 55 · 2020 final defense, PDF p. 6 · 2021 final defense, PDF p. 5 · 2022 final defense, PDF p. 5 · 2023 final defense, PDF p. 5.
Original participation charts: 2019 participation, PDF p. 65 · 2020 participation, PDF p. 17 · 2021 participation, PDF p. 5 · 2022 participation, PDF p. 5 · 2023 participation, PDF p. 18.
West Virginia: 22 games, 17 starts and 114 tackles. Georgia: 29 games, 16 starts and 101 tackles. Together, the five actual seasons total 51 games and 215 tackles, including the 2021 Auburn appearance.
| Season | School | PBU | INT | PD | INT YDS | INT AVG | INT LNG | INT TD | FF | FR | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | West Virginia | 4 | 2 | 6 | 58 | 29.0 | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | West Virginia | 5 | 2 | 7 | 42 | 21.0 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Georgia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Georgia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Georgia | 2 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 5.0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| College career | Both schools | 12 | 8 | 20 | 120 | 15.0 | 42 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
PBU = passes broken up; INT = interceptions; PD = PBU + INT. INT YDS, AVG, LNG and TD describe interception returns; AVG is total yards divided by interceptions, and LNG is the longest qualifying return. A dash means no interception return applies. FF = forced fumbles; FR = fumble recoveries; BLK = blocked kicks.
Original return records: 2019 returns, PDF p. 52 · 2020 returns, PDF p. 3 · 2021 returns, PDF p. 2 · 2022 returns, PDF p. 2 · 2023 returns, PDF p. 2. The annual reports credit no individual punt or kickoff return, fumble-recovery return or safety. Personal offensive fumbles are not inferred from defensive FF/FR columns.
College championship and bowl appearances
| Season | School | Date | Game | Opponent | Team result | G | GS | Solo | Ast | TKL | TFL | TFL YDS | Sacks | Sack YDS | QB hurries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | West Virginia | Dec 31, 2020 | Liberty Bowl | Army | W 24–21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Georgia | Dec 3, 2022 | SEC Championship | LSU | W 50–30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Georgia | Dec 31, 2022 | Peach Bowl / CFP semifinal | Ohio State | W 42–41 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Georgia | Jan 9, 2023 | CFP National Championship | TCU | W 65–7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 9 | 1.0 | 9 | 2 |
| 2023 | Georgia | Dec 2, 2023 | SEC Championship | Alabama | L 24–27 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Georgia | Dec 30, 2023 | Orange Bowl | Florida State | W 63–3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Postseason subset | Both schools | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 2.0 | 10 | 1.0 | 9 | 2 |
Every row is an actual appearance already included in its annual total. Results are from Smith’s team’s perspective. The January 2023 national-title game belongs to the 2022 season. These six appearances add no pass breakup, interception, forced or recovered fumble, blocked kick, safety, punt return or kickoff return to the counting record.
Original postseason statistical reports: 2020 Liberty Bowl · 2022 SEC Championship · 2022 Peach Bowl / CFP semifinal · 2022 CFP National Championship · 2023 SEC Championship · 2023 Orange Bowl.
The 2020 Liberty Bowl reserve appearance and 2022 SEC Championship start remain included despite zero counting statistics. The original annual participation charts establish those appearances; the official Liberty Bowl participation list independently lists Smith among West Virginia’s substitutes.
He did not appear in Georgia’s 2021 SEC Championship, Orange Bowl or national-title game. The original 2021 participation chart records only his Auburn appearance. Championship-team membership and actual championship-game participation are distinct.
Sources & statistical notes
The records behind the spotlight
- Identity and background: current Buccaneers profile, 2026 media guide, Georgia biography and West Virginia biography.
- Development and recognition: West Virginia interview, FWAA award announcement, Georgia Quick Chat, NFL draft announcement and Buccaneers rookie interview.
- Featured plays and community: the original Carolina gamebook, the team’s blocked-kick highlight and interception highlight, and Moffitt visit report.
- NFL statistics: Original final defense, special-teams and participation records in the 2025 and 2026 Buccaneers guides, eight original 2026 gamebooks, two historical gamebooks resolving individual credits and the actual Washington playoff gamebook. Defensive and special-teams tackles are separate; NFL postseason is separate from regular season.
- College statistics: Five original annual statistical records and participation charts, six postseason statistical reports and official participation records. Original QB-hurry and pass-breakup categories are retained; actual zero-stat appearances count as games. Postseason is already included annually.
- Portrait: the current official Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster image.
Updated November 3, 2026. NFL regular-season statistics stop after November 1, Week 8; preseason is excluded. NFL postseason is separate from regular-season totals. College postseason appearances are subsets already included in their annual and career totals. NFL defensive and special-teams tackles are separate. College pass breakups and interception-inclusive passes defensed are distinguished. Snap counts are labeled by source.