YaYa Diaby

YaYa Diaby

Diaby with the Buccaneers in 2023
No. 0 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1999-05-30) May 30, 1999 (age 25) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school:	North Clayton (College Park, Georgia)
College:	Georgia Military (2018–2019) Louisville (2020–2022)
NFL draft:	2023 / round: 3 / pick: 82
Career history
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Third-team All-ACC (2022)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 91 Sacks: 12.0 Forced fumbles: 2 Fumble recoveries: 2 Stats at Pro Football Reference

YaYa Diaby (born May 30, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Military and Louisville.

Early years

Diaby attended North Clayton High School in College Park, Georgia.[1]

College career

Diaby attended Georgia Military College for two years before transferring to the University of Louisville.[2][3] He had 77 tackles and seven sacks at Georgia Military.[4] In Diaby's first year at Louisville in 2020, he started seven of eight games, recording 18 tackles.[5] In 2021, he had 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks.[6] In 2022, Diaby had 37 tackles and nine sacks.[7] After the season, he entered the 2023 NFL draft.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	Vertical jump	Broad jump
6 ft 3+3⁄8 in (1.91 m)	263 lb (119 kg)	33+7⁄8 in (0.86 m)	10+3⁄8 in (0.26 m)	4.51 s	1.56 s	2.62 s	37.0 in (0.94 m)	10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
All values from the NFL Combine[8][9]

Diaby was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 82nd overall pick.[10] As a rookie, Diaby played in all 17 regular season games and made seven starts. He finished with 38 total tackles (25 solo), one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He started both of the Buccaneers' postseason games.[11]

In Week 18 of the 2024 season, Diaby recorded five tackles, four for a loss, and one sack in a 29-17 win over the New Orleans Saints, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[12]

References

1. "North Clayton grad YaYa Diaby picked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL Draft". Clayton News. April 28, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
2. Bozich, Rick (August 17, 2021). "Yaya Diaby's journey from 0-star recruit to Louisville defensive force". WDRB. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
3. Robinson, Cameron Teague (December 19, 2019). "Louisville football gets commitment from junior college All-American defensive end". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
4. "YaYa Diaby". University of Louisville Athletics. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
5. Shipley, John (April 13, 2023). "2023 NFL Draft: How Would YaYa Diaby Fit With the Jaguars?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
6. Lewis, Dustin (April 29, 2023). "Athletic EDGE YaYa Diaby bringing "Hungry" Mentality to Tampa Bay". SI.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
7. "Yaya Diaby 2022 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
8. "YaYa Diaby Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
9. "2023 NFL Draft Scout YaYa Diaby College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
10. Dix, Brianna (April 28, 2023). "Buccaneers Select YaYa Diaby With 82nd Pick of the 2023 NFL Draft". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
11. "YaYa Diaby 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
12. Gordon, Grant (January 8, 2025). "Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Broncos QB Bo Nix highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.

External links

• Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · Yahoo Sports
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio
• Louisville Cardinals bio