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Biography
ACQUIRED BY BUCS:
Selected in the first round (12th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
ACQUIRED BY BUCS:
Selected in the first round (12th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES:
Super Bowl LV Champion.
2021 Pro Bowl Selection
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Has started 74-of-79 games he has played, recording 180 tackles (31 for loss), 53 quarterback hits, 23.5 sacks, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Has played in seven postseason contests, with five starts, recording 10 tackles (two for loss), five quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks.
Recorded first career multi-sack game at Atlanta (12/5/21), with 2.0 sacks.
Registered first career fumble recovery against Chicago (10/24/21).
Scored first NFL touchdown when he caught a one-yard pass in a Buccaneers' win at Atlanta (11/24/19).
Recorded first career sack (Alex Smith) vs. Washington (11/11/18).
Recorded a career-high nine tackles, which was the most by a Buccaneers defensive lineman since Week 15 of 2015, at Baltimore (12/16/18).
Made NFL debut at Chicago (9/30/18). x Made first career start in win vs. Cleveland (10/21/18).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Was named a team captain for the 2023 season.
Started at nose tackle in the Week 1 victory at Minnesota, logging four tackles (one for loss).
According to Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's second-highest graded defender in Week 1, earning a 75.8 grade.
In Week 2 vs. Chicago, played 34 defensive snaps and finished with three tackles (one for loss), three quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks.
His 1.5 sack performance in Week 2 marked his highest sack output in a game since Nov. 6, 2022 vs. L.A. Rams (2.0)
Played 41-of-78 defensive snaps in Week 3 vs. Philadelphia, logging three tackles.
In the Week 4 victory at New Orleans, played 44-of-68 defensive snaps and finished with three tackles (one for loss), 2.0 sacks, two quarterback hits and one forced fumble.
His 2.0 sacks in Week 4 marked his third career multi-sack performance and his first since 11/6/2022 vs. L.A. Rams.
Through five weeks, Vea's 3.5 sacks ranked fourth among defensive tackles.
In Week 6 vs. Detroit, finished with a then-season-high six tackles (one for loss) and one forced fumble. It marked his second forced fumble in as many games.
Vea's forced fumble in Week 6 was his third over his previous 17 games, after not recording one over his first 52 career games played.
According to Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defensive player in Week 6, earning a 90.0 grade.
Through six weeks, Vea was just one of just five players — and the only non- edge rusher — to have 3.5-or-more scaks, five-or-more quarterback hits, four-or-more tackles for loss and two- or-more forced fumbles.
In Week 7 vs. Atlanta, played 36-of-65 defensive snaps and finishde with two tackles.
Was inactive for Week 8 at Buffalo.
In Week 9 at Houston, played 50-of- 72 defensive snaps and finished with four tackles (one for loss) and one quarterback hit.
According to Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's second-highest graded defensive starter in Week 9, earning a 72.3 grade.
In the Week 10 victory over Tennessee, played 39-of-63 defensive snaps and finished with two tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits and 1.0 sack.
According to Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defender in Week 10, earning a 72.6 grade.
In Week 11 at San Franisco, played 38-of-60 defensive snaps and finished with four tackles (two for loss), 1.0 sack and one quarterback hit.
Vea's sack in Week 11 improved his then-team-leading total to 5.5 and his career total to 23.5.
Played 46-of-73 defensive snaps in Week 12 at Indianapolis.
In the Week 13 victory over Carolina, played 46-of-72 defensive snaps and logged two tackles.
Was inactive for Week 14 at Atlanta.
In the Week 15 victory at Green Bay, played 28-of-60 defensive snaps and recorded two tackles.
Played 35-of-66 defensive snaps in the Week 16 win over Jacksonville, finishing with one tackle.
In Week 17 vs. New Orleans, played 48- of-70 defensive snaps, finishing with a season-high-tying six tackles.
In the Week 18 victory at Carolina, played 38-of-52 defensive snaps and recorded one tackle.
In the Wild Card round win over Philadelphia, tallied two tackles, one quarterback hit and 0.5 sacks. He improved his career postseason sack total to 2.5.
In the Divisional round contest at Detroit, played 48-of-73 defensive snaps and finished with one tackle and one quarterback hit.
COLLEGE:
Played in 40 career games at Washington (2014-17), recording 100 tackles (15 for loss), 9.5 sacks, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks.
As a redshirt junior (2017), earned the Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year Award, as well as the Morris Trophy, given annually to the top defensive lineman in the Pac-12, as voted on by the conference's offensive linemen.
Named second-team All-American by USA Today, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation and The Athletic, while earning first-team All-Pac-12 Honors from both the league's coaches and the Associated Press. Was also a finalist for the Polynesian Player of the Year and was a Bednarik Award semifinalist.
Started all 13 games as a senior, recording 44 tackles (5.5 for loss), four passes defensed, 2.5 sacks and a blocked punt.
Helped anchor Washington's run defense, which ranked fourth in the NCAA in rushing yards allowed per game (100.9), while only allowing 2.86 yards per carry, the second-lowest mark in the NCAA.
Part of a Washington defense that allowed just 16.1 points per game, the fifth-best mark in the country, and allowed only 298.0 yards per game, the eighth-fewest in the NCAA.
Played in all 14 games, with five starts, as a redshirt sophomore (2016), tallying 39 tackles (6.5 for loss), 5.0 sacks, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.
As a redshirt freshman in 2015, played in 13 games, registering 17 tackles (three for loss), one forced fumble, one pass defensed and one sack.
Redshirted in 2014.
PERSONAL/COMMUNITY:
Attended Milpitas High School (Milpitas, California).
Played defensive line and running back in high school.
Named to MaxPreps.com All-NorCal first team and Division II all-state first-team as a senior, while also being named first-team All-Metro by the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News.
Vea, along with the defensive linemen hosted the 8th annual "D-Line Delivers Christmas". Local families were surprised with a tour of AdventHealth Training Center, dinner with D-Line, and a shopping spree at Target.