Summer is here, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay. 

Are we going to write about quarterbacks? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans. 

So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.

Player Information

Player: Eric O’Neill

School: Rutgers

Height/Weight: 6-3/250 lbs.

Player Background

– 2-Star Recruit

– Played Basketball in High School

– Transferred from Long Island to James Madison before landing in Rutgers

– First-Team All-Sun Belt in 2024

Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season (Just 2024 Season)

– 52 Tackles

– 19 Tackles for Loss

– 13 Sacks

– 1 Interception

Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season 

– 80.6 PFF Run Defense

– 78.9 PFF Pass Defense

– 17 QB Hits

– 91 QB Hurries

– 125 Defensive Stops

Player Traits

– Big motor for endless pursuit

– Uses length to get and maintain leverage

– Rocket off the edge

– Counters in his back pocket

– Can produce right away in pass-rush packages

Player Summary

Anytime a player can make the jump from Long Island to James Madison, to eventually land at Rutgers, it gets your attention. Then you look at his PFF metrics and you think, “this guy is a monster.” Then, when you turn on the film and he checks the final box, you can finally get excited. O’Neill needs a lot of work, but I fully expect him to keep getting that in the Big Ten this year. He has some raw power he can rely on too much, but he is starting to show some finesse at times in situations. He does really well pursuing ball carriers and quarterbacks. More often than not, his motor will allow him to make plays than not. Lots to like with him, and he has shown to get better every year.