Turn on the college tape of Teddye Buchanan and you'll see a long-haired linebacker screaming around the field making plays.
Buchanan still played with his proverbial hair on fire at Ravens practices this summer, but there was a lot less mane. As a fourth-round rookie, Buchanan is working this summer to earn everything – even his hair, which he cut short at the start of the pre-draft process.
"I kind of wanted to restart and as my NFL career goes on, gradually grow the hair back out and kind of earn that back," he said on “The Lounge” podcast following mandatory minicamp.
Ravens first-round safety Malaki Starks is projected to be an immediate starter. Second-round pick Mike Green is expected to be a big part of the Ravens' outside linebacker rotation. Besides them, Buchanan has the clearest immediate path to major playing time.
Trenton Simpson is the leading contender to be the starting inside linebacker next to Roquan Smith, and Simpson feels much better this summer than he did last year when he started in the first 13 games of the season.
However, Simpson still may not play 100% of the defensive snaps even if he earns back his starting job, and the Ravens' No. 3 inside linebacker could still see significant defensive action. Chris Board played 42% of the defensive snaps down the stretch last year after Malik Harrison became a starter.
That leaves an opening for Buchanan, who can make an impact in various aspects of the game. He was a tackling machine last season at Cal (112 tackles) and was also strong in coverage and a good blitzer (five sacks). Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr has been impressed with what he's seen.
"Teddye plays like a Raven. [On] his college film, he flies around, and he seeks contact. He can play in space, and he's a smart player," Orr said. "I'm excited about Teddye. We're throwing a lot on his plate. He's playing both positions for us – Mike, Will, and dime – and he's done a good job going out there so far."
Buchanan has excellent teachers in his room, including new Linebackers Coach Tyler Santucci and Smith. Buchanan said it's been a blessing that Smith has taken him under his wing. At the same time, the California native isn't looking at his rookie campaign like a redshirt learning season. He's trying to get up to speed fast.
"Physically, I feel like I can compete and run with guys. I have the tools to do that," Buchanan said. "The main thing I've been focused on is the mental side of the game.
"I'm just trying to focus on the day-to-day. I just control what I can control, show up every day, and do what I can do. Whatever that leads to, that's really out of my hands, ultimately. For me, it's about focusing on the process and just letting the result take care of itself."
The rookie brings a unique perspective as a former high school quarterback who wanted to stay under center until he got his first college offer as a linebacker. He feels that gives him a better understanding of what he can do to make life difficult for quarterbacks, especially when dropping into coverage.
But Buchanan's greatest assets may be his athleticism and drive. He's been lifting weights with his father since he was around 11 years old and was doing push-ups at 6. His massive quad muscles are a testament to his work in the weight room.
Partly because he was a high school quarterback, Buchanan didn't get much recruiting attention and landed at UC-Davis after being offered a preferred walk-on spot at his hometown (and preferred) school of Cal. Buchanan played four seasons at UC-Davis, then went on to have an explosive final college season at Cal, proving he could still play at a high level despite the jump in competition level.
He is the first UC-Davis alum to be drafted into the NFL since 2002 and the highest pick since 1986. That journey is motivation he carries now into the NFL.
Buchanan had grown his hair out since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020. The extensive maintenance required was another reason why he decided to cut it off, but the drive to prove himself once again remains at the root.
"I was never a highly recruited guy, so I feel like I've always had to do the little things and do the extra work to make sure I'm up to standard and stand out. I didn't have that external validation saying, 'You're a great player.' I had to prove myself," he said.
"There were moments where the path to the NFL was not very obvious or clear. I feel like that's made me very resilient and given me a strong belief in myself. Working up to that is something you can't take away."
