Ex-LSU Edge Rusher Jack Pyburn Has Newfound Motivation In The NFL That He Lacked In College

By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter

Former LSU defensive end Jack Pyburn wowed in his NFL preseason debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday.

Pyburn sacked the quarterback twice in just 25 snaps in the Bucs’ 24-16 win over the New York Jets, and he said his hot start is a product of working harder than he did during his college career at Florida and LSU.

“My entire college career, I just don’t think I worked hard enough,” Pyburn said after practice Monday. “When I reflect back on it, no matter where I was, whether I was at Florida or LSU, I just did not dedicate my life to it. And simply, this is everything that I’ve ever wanted since I was a kid. My screen saver is me as a little kid playing football, and it says do it for him. I look at that every day when I wake up at 4:30, 5:00 in the morning, and that’s what I’m doing now.”

Ex-Gator Edge Jack Pyburn Drains The Swamp From His System And Feels Reborn At LSU

Pyburn, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, transferred from Florida to LSU for his senior year last season. As a Tiger, he played 12 games and totaled 52 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.

In his three years with the Gators, Pyburn appeared in 29 games and made eight starts. All of those starts came in his junior season when he tallied 60 total tackles, four tackles for loss with only one sack and an interception.

“I did all the extra work, but not to a level that I want to do it because like I said, ‘One day I want to be one of the best,’” Pyburn said. “However long that takes, I don’t care. I’m going to continue to work like that, and in life. That’s going to carry me farther than I could ever hope for it to carry me. Whatever I do in life, I want to be successful.”

Former Gators and LSU OLB Jack Pyburn said he’s worked harder on the mental side of the game and when he wasn’t drafted, took responsibility for it. He got off social media. He had 2 sacks Friday vs Jets. pic.twitter.com/iQozWDRE40

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) August 17, 2026

Pyburn, 22, went unpicked in April’s NFL Draft. He signed a three-year, $3 million undrafted free agent contract with the Buccaneers in May.

“I’ve always been a good football player and had a good college career, but I didn’t perform how I wanted to perform,” Pyburn said. “Part of that is a mental side of the game that I didn’t fully tap into and a confidence aspect. And when I sat on my couch on the day of the draft, and I didn’t get drafted, I had to look at myself in the mirror and decide, ‘Who do I want to be?’ Do I want to say, ‘Why me?’ Or do I want to say, ‘Why not me?’ And in that moment, I chose, ‘Why not me?’ And I’ve worked harder than I’ve ever worked in my life to be where I’m at, and I’m going to continue to work even harder.”