SirVocea Dennis
refer to caption
Dennis with the Buccaneers in 2023
No. 8 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2000-03-09) March 9, 2000
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:226 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school:Christian Brothers (Syracuse, New York)
Peddie (Hightstown, New Jersey)
College:Pittsburgh (2019–2022)
NFL Draft:2023 / Round: 5 / Pick: 153
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:13
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

SirVocea Levitticus Dennis (born March 9, 2000) is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh.

Early years

Dennis was born on March 9, 2000, in Syracuse, New York.[1][2] He attended Christian Brothers Academy and played both quarterback and defensive back, leading the team to two Section III championships.[1][3] He also played basketball and lacrosse.[4] However, as a senior he suffered a torn Achilles tendon and, as that put doubt on his college football career, Dennis decided to play a postgraduate year at the Peddie School.[5] At Peddie, he was named the Mid-Atlantic Prep League Defensive Player of the Year.[6] He was only a two-star college recruit, and after initially committing to Air Force switched to Pittsburgh, the only Power Five team to make an offer.[7][8]

College career

Dennis joined Pittsburgh as a linebacker.[8] As a freshman in 2019, he appeared in eight games as a special teams player.[6] He saw more defensive action in 2020, appearing in 10 games, two as a starter, and posted a team-leading 14.5 tackles-for-loss, a total that placed top ten nationally, as well as 57 tackles and four sacks, on his way to being named third-team all-conference.[4][9][10] In 2021, he started 13 games and led the team with 87 total tackles as well as 9.5 tackles-for-loss, four sacks, one blocked field goal, an interception and a fumble recovery, being named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.[1][11]

Dennis became a team captain as a senior in 2022 and started 12 games, recording 94 tackles, a team-best, as well as nine sacks, 12 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles.[12][13] He was a first-team all-conference selection and was named third-team All-American by Pro Football Focus.[14] After the regular season, Dennis declared for the NFL Draft and skipped Pittsburgh's bowl game, finishing his college career with 233 tackles, 36.0 tackles-for-loss , 15.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.[15][16]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+1⁄2 in
(1.84 m)		 226 lb
(103 kg)		 32+7⁄8 in
(0.84 m)		 10+5⁄8 in
(0.27 m)		4.64 s1.66 s2.66 s4.36 s41.5 in
(1.05 m)		10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)		19 reps
Sources:[17][18]

Dennis impressed at his pro day and was projected as a late-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.[1][16][19] He ended up being chosen in the fifth round (153rd overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "NFL Draft Profile: SirVocea Dennis, Linebacker, Pittsburgh Panthers". Sports Illustrated. August 14, 2022.
  2. ↑ "SirVocea Dennis". ESPN.
  3. ↑ Hauswirth, Matt (February 4, 2019). "Former CBA football star SirVocea Dennis commits to Pitt Panthers". WSTM-TV.
  4. 1 2 Dipaola, Jerry (August 13, 2021). "Stats aside, Pitt linebacker SirVocea Dennis approaches 2021 with unfinished business". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  5. ↑ Columbia, Erik (September 17, 2020). "CBA's SirVocea Dennis Finds New Home with Panthers". Spectrum Local News.
  6. 1 2 Vukovcan, Mike (August 6, 2020). "Re-Introducing You To Pitt Football's Class of 2019". Pittsburgh Sports Now.
  7. ↑ Crisan, Corey (November 2, 2022). "Dennis eager to oppose hometown Syracuse team amid his strong season". DK Pittsburgh Sports.
  8. 1 2 Ludwig, Karl (November 3, 2022). "Syracuse Week Brings SirVocea Dennis's Football Journey Nearly Full Circle". Pittsburgh Sports Now.
  9. ↑ Filipcic-Godsey, Amanda (September 16, 2021). "Pitt football | Unheralded LB Dennis standing out on Panthers defense". The Tribune-Democrat.
  10. ↑ Dipaola, Jerry (November 15, 2022). "For now, Pitt's SirVocea Dennis focused on sacks more than plans for future". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  11. ↑ Dipaola, Jerry (June 21, 2022). "SirVocea Dennis said his 'love for Pitt football' made him spurn transfer suitors". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  12. ↑ Barton, Jared; Pompeani, Bob (August 31, 2022). "Pitt linebacker SirVocea Dennis takes advantage of NIL opportunities". CBS News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ Lacy, Kenny, Jr. (December 19, 2022). "CBA grad SirVocea Dennis declares for NFL Draft". The Post-Standard.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (December 19, 2022). "Pitt LB SirVocea Dennis Opts Out of Sun Bowl to Prepare for NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated.
  15. ↑ Carter, Christopher (December 19, 2022). "Pitt's Israel Abanikanda, SirVocea Dennis lead list of Panthers skipping Sun Bowl". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  16. 1 2 Campbell, Dominic (March 30, 2023). "LB SirVocea Dennis Impresses Scouts with Stellar Performance at Pitt Pro Day". Pittsburgh Sports Now.
  17. ↑ "SirVocea Dennis Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  18. ↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout SirVocea Dennis College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  19. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (March 1, 2023). "Pitt LB SirVocea Dennis Transforms Body in Anticipation of NFL Combine". Sports Illustrated.
  20. ↑ Dipaloa, Jerry (April 29, 2023). "Pitt LB SirVocea Dennis drafted by Buccaneers in 5th round, 1 of 6 Panthers selected". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
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