It is never too early for NFL teams to start doing their homework on the next draft class, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had someone in attendance for one of Friday night's biggest college football games so far this season.
According to Keith Inglis, the Bucs were one of 15 NFL teams that sent scouts to watch No. 13 Texas Tech take on No. 22 Houston. Tampa Bay certainly had plenty to evaluate in Texas Tech's 28-26 win, with potential 2027 NFL Draft prospects on both sides of the ball.
One player who made sure the scouts noticed him was Houston defensive back Jalen Mayo. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound corner made a ridiculous one-handed interception near the end zone late in the first half, helping Houston take a 17-14 lead into halftime. Mayo is in his
fifth collegiate season after previously playing at Stephen F. Austin and Virginia Union.
There is no indication Tampa Bay's scout was specifically there for Mayo, but cornerback will be an interesting position to follow for the Bucs as the 2027 draft class starts to take shape. Mayo wasn't the only defensive back worth watching, either. Texas Tech's Brice Pollock is a 6-foot, 195-pound senior who earned preseason All-Big 12 honors after helping the Red Raiders win the conference in 2025.
Texas Tech also gave Tampa Bay a chance to get another look at defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr. and linebacker Ben Roberts. Holmes entered 2026 as the Big 12's preseason Defensive Player of the Year after earning second-team AP All-America honors in 2025, while Roberts joined Holmes and Pollock on the conference's preseason team.
Houston offensive lineman Shadre Hurst was another name worth evaluating. The 6-foot-2, 304-pound fifth-year lineman transferred from Tulane and entered this season with preseason All-America recognition from multiple outlets.
Sending a scout to one college game doesn't tell us who Tampa Bay is interested in, and it certainly doesn't make any of these players a confirmed Bucs target. Still, Mayo gave Tampa Bay's scout a memorable play to put in the notebook while both Houston and Texas Tech offered an early look at names that could be part of the 2027 NFL Draft conversation.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs scouts watch potential 2027 target make insane interception
