Zyon McCollum Bio
Zyon McCollum is an American professional football cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 3, 1999, in Galveston, Texas, he played college football for the Sam Houston State Bearkats before being selected by the Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. Standing 188 centimeters tall and weighing 90 kilograms, McCollum has developed into a starting cornerback for Tampa Bay, signing a major contract extension in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Zyon McCollum grew up in Galveston, Texas, a coastal city with a rich athletic tradition. He attended Ball High School, where he began building the skills that would later carry him to the professional level. Coming from a family with a notable sports pedigree, McCollum was introduced to competitive athletics at an early age.
He is the son of former NBA player Cory Carr, a connection that gave him early exposure to high-level professional sport. McCollum is also the identical twin brother of Tristin McCollum, who went on to play safety in the NFL for the Las Vegas Raiders. The brothers shared a close bond through their developmental years and trained together throughout their childhood in Galveston.
Path to American Football
McCollum initially committed to play college football at the University of Utah alongside his twin brother Tristin. However, citing a desire to play closer to home, both brothers reneged on that commitment and signed letters of intent to play at Sam Houston State instead. The decision brought McCollum into the Bearkats program, where he would eventually become one of the most decorated defensive backs in school history.
McCollum became a starter at cornerback during his freshman season at Sam Houston State. He was named first-team All-Southland Conference after recording 44 tackles with eight passes broken up and three interceptions in his sophomore season. His steady development through the college ranks positioned him as a legitimate professional prospect entering the 2022 NFL draft.
Zyon McCollum Career
College Career at Sam Houston State
During his junior season, McCollum was named second-team All-Conference after intercepting three passes and breaking up 11 others, despite missing the final three games of the season due to injury. His senior season was shortened and played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and he recorded 46 tackles while earning first-team All-Southland honors. The Bearkats won the 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game that season.
McCollum decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and returned to Sam Houston State for a fifth season. In his final season, he tallied 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, three interceptions, and eight passes defended and was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference, cementing his status as an FCS champion and a polished draft prospect.
NFL Draft and Rookie Season (2022)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected McCollum in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft. The Buccaneers orchestrated a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to immediately draft McCollum, agreeing to trade a fourth-round pick (121st overall) in the 2023 NFL draft to the Jaguars in exchange for their fifth-round (157th overall) and seventh-round (235th overall) selections in the 2022 NFL draft. He was the 22nd cornerback selected in the 2022 draft class. On May 12, 2022, Tampa Bay signed McCollum to a four-year, $3.98 million rookie contract that included an initial signing bonus of $321,732.
Throughout training camp, he competed for a role as a backup cornerback against Ross Cockrell, Dee Delaney, and Rashard Robinson. On August 18, 2022, McCollum suffered a hamstring injury during practice and was sidelined for the remaining two preseason games. Head coach Todd Bowles listed him as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart to begin the season. He made his professional regular season debut on October 9, 2022, recording two solo tackles in a 21–15 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He finished his rookie season with 24 combined tackles (18 solo) and one pass defended in 13 games and three starts, earning an overall grade of 46.3 from Pro Football Focus.
Sophomore Season (2023)
McCollum entered his second training camp slated as a backup. Head coach Todd Bowles listed him as the third cornerback on the depth chart to begin the season, behind returning starters Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean. As the season progressed, McCollum earned a larger role and finished the year with 68 combined tackles (49 solo), nine pass deflections, and two forced fumbles in 17 games and nine starts. He received an overall grade of 73.3 from Pro Football Focus in 2023.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2023 NFL season with a 9–8 record, claiming first place in the NFC South to clinch a playoff berth. On January 21, 2024, McCollum recorded six combined tackles (five solo) as the Buccaneers lost 23–31 at the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.
Starting Role and Contract Extension (2024–Present)
McCollum entered training camp in 2024 as a possible candidate to replace Carlton Davis as a starting cornerback following Davis’s departure. He earned the role in a competition against Bryce Hall, Tavierre Thomas, Josh Hayes, and Keenan Isaac, and Head coach Todd Bowles named him the No. 2 starting cornerback to begin the season, paired with Jamel Dean. On September 15, 2024, McCollum made six combined tackles (five solo), set a career-high with four pass deflections, and made his first career interception on a pass by Jared Goff to wide receiver Jameson Williams during a 20–16 victory at the Detroit Lions. He started all 17 games throughout the 2024 NFL season and finished with 82 combined tackles (55 solo), a career-high 17 pass deflections, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. He received an overall grade of 69.5 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 54th amongst 222 qualifying cornerbacks in 2024.
On September 5, 2025, McCollum signed a three-year, $48 million contract extension with $35.4 million guaranteed, securing his place with the Buccaneers through 2028.
Driving Style and Strengths
McCollum is a long, physical cornerback whose 188-centimeter frame and 90-kilogram build allow him to match up with bigger wide receivers on the outside. He shows strong instincts in zone coverage, demonstrated by his career-high 17 pass deflections in 2024, and has shown growth as a tackler in the run game. His development under Head coach Todd Bowles and alongside veteran Jamel Dean has helped him mature into a reliable perimeter defender for Tampa Bay.
Notable Events and Milestones
McCollum’s first career interception against Jared Goff on September 15, 2024, stands as one of his defining professional moments. He also contributed to the Buccaneers’ NFC South title in 2023 and started a divisional playoff game at Detroit that same postseason. His 2025 contract extension marked a major financial milestone, validating his rise from fifth-round pick to entrenched starter.
Zyon McCollum Career Wins
McCollum’s most significant team win came during his senior season at Sam Houston State, when the Bearkats captured the 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game, an FCS national title. In the NFL, he contributed to Tampa Bay Buccaneers victories including the 21–15 win over the Atlanta Falcons on October 9, 2022, his regular-season debut, and a 20–16 victory at the Detroit Lions on September 15, 2024, in which he recorded his first career interception. He also helped the Buccaneers clinch the NFC South in 2023 with a 9–8 record.
College Achievements
McCollum was a two-time first-team All-Southland Conference selection in 2018 and 2020, and a second-team All-Southland pick in 2019. He added first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors in 2021 and was part of the Sam Houston State Bearkats team that won the 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game.
Zyon McCollum Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
McCollum is the son of former NBA player Cory Carr, a professional basketball player whose career at the highest level helped shape Zyon and his brother’s competitive drive. The twins grew up in a household steeped in professional athletics.
Personal Life
McCollum is the identical twin brother of NFL safety Tristin McCollum, who plays for the Las Vegas Raiders. The two brothers attended Ball High School in Galveston, Texas, and originally committed to the University of Utah before deciding to play college football closer to home at Sam Houston State.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a new chapter for McCollum following his three-year, $48 million contract extension signed on September 5, 2025, which includes $35.4 million in guaranteed money. Coming off a career-best 2024 campaign in which he recorded 82 tackles, 17 pass deflections, and two interceptions, McCollum enters the season entrenched as a starting cornerback opposite Jamel Dean. Tampa Bay will look to build on its 2023 NFC South title and compete for another division crown.
As a long, physical cornerback entering his prime, McCollum’s progression under Head coach Todd Bowles will be central to the Buccaneers’ defensive outlook. His continued growth in coverage and run support gives Tampa Bay a reliable perimeter presence. With his contract secure through 2028, McCollum has both the stability and the motivation to elevate his game further.