“He’s a nightmare for offenses as a pass rusher.” This is how Lance Zierlein of NFL.com described Calijah Kancey in the draft prospect ahead of the 2023 draft before the Bucs picked him out of Pittsburgh. And let’s be honest, he’s living up to that hype in his second year in Tampa Bay. But what really stands out about this guy? He never forgets where he came from.

Born on March 1, 2001, in Miami, Florida, Calijah Demetrius Kancey is all about family. His tight-knit crew includes three sisters and a brother. Tragically, his dad, Ken, passed away. But that loss only fuels Calijah’s fire. And much of it is down to how his mom, Schquinina, has raised him. A single mother of four. You can call her Iron Lady, but that’d be an understatement. The best way to describe her is how her kids, especially Calijah, have come out of the trenches to shine.

Schquinina Smith pushed Calijah to chase his dreams and made sure he carried his father’s spirit into every game. It’s like they say: “You can’t put a price on family,” and Calijah has clearly taken that to heart.

In 2022, he became the only player in the country to be a finalist for both the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player of the year). He was definitely taking the family learnings/values to churn out a 5-star rookie resume.

When the Buccaneers picked him 19th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, he knew it was game time. He made an immediate impact, even earning the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for November. And what better way to honor his mom’s all-round support than with a tribute?

What did Calijah Kancey gift his mom?

In the game of celebrating touchdowns, wins, and championships, Calijah took a different route. He thought why not celebrate his first NFL payday in some style? And boy, he did. He went straight to the end zone for his mom! Kancey didn’t waste any time helping her out, putting that paycheck to good use before training camp kicked off.

He bought her a brand-new house and a sleek Mercedes Benz SUV. Can you say ‘the biggest son of the year’ award? He even added a massive bouquet of roses to the mix. “For everything you sacrificed for me and coco. This is only the beginning thank you for being such a great parent to us. Congrats on your new house and car ma this for you,” he wrote on Instagram. And how did Mom react? “She got very emotional; if you remember how she was on draft day, it was almost similar to that,” Calijah shared.

As the fourth defensive lineman taken in 2023, Kancey signed a four-year contract worth $14,493,475, with a sweet signing bonus of $7,540,709. He celebrated this life-changing moment with family and friends in the new digs, which sold for $1.4 million through Grant & Associates in South Florida. What’s crazy is that Calijah was just 22 last year, when he thought of making some big moves off the gridiron.

Even before stepping on the pro field, he proved that he’s got it. A real one was spotted. As he gears up for the rest of the season, you can bet he’ll carry the Kancey banner high.