Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum is indeed indomitable on the field! Selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft as he transitioned from Sam Houston State, he is proving his worth like no other. Raised in Galveston, Texas, his family has played a crucial role in solidifying his athletic career, while also providing emotional support to navigate the challenges.

Receiving undying support from his parents Cory Carr and Tisha McCollum, and his twin brother, Tristin, Zyon is taking long strides in his career. Playing against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 this season, his performance was quite impressive. And, his parents are quite proud of him!

Who Are Cory Carr and Tisha McCollum?

Zyon’s father, Cory Carr, is intensively involved in professional sports. Born on December 5, 1975, in Fordyce, Arkansas, he made a solid name for himself in basketball playing at Texas Tech. And, here he earned the First-team All-Big 12 honors in 1998.

From here, he made solid progress as he was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, and also played for the Chicago Bulls right after the Michael Jordan dynasty. Zyon, in an interview he gave in June 2023, joked to him about it saying, “You couldn’t go 1 on 1 with Jordan just for a year?”

But, beyond this, Carr also charted the overseas boundary particularly in Israel wherein he also gained citizenship. And, it was here that he also began to coach young athletes at the Israel Girls Basketball Academy.

Besides gaining inspiration from his dad, Zyon’s mother also played an important role in making him athletic. Zyon told in the interview, “She wanted us to be able to play everything…because if you know how to play everything, you’re going to add to your athleticism.”

Zyon’s mother, Tisha McCollum, raised Zyon and his twin brother, Tristin, as a single mother in Galveston. And, things were not easy due to financial constraints. She recalls, “Food was the biggest expense after rent,” as she was catering to her sons’ needs. Working as a teacher, she wanted Zyon and Tristin to pursue their football dreams. “Once you get that mindset… it’s just the way you live your life,” she remarked.

Tisha often used to drive 2.5 hours to watch  Zyon’s games at Sam Houston State. She has been his constant supporter, and reflecting on it she adds, “It was the hardest route… but we believed so much.” And, indeed it has paid off.

Are Zyon and Tristin McCollum Siblings?

Yes. Tristin McCollum is the twin brother of Zyon McCollum. From childhood to playing football together at Sam Houston State, they have covered it all. They used to often train together, giving each other a requisite push. “We used to run 1-on-1s in the backyard every day,” Zyon recalls when they used to play in the backyard. While Zyon used to play as a cornerback, Tristin played safety.

Their mother, Tisha used to consider them as “traitors” for supporting the Eagles. Tristin at the start became an Eagles fan just to annoy his mom but Zyon followed suit. Tristin remarked, “We would talk so much trash to our family… It comes full circle.”

However, while they shared a close path, they wanted to build their separate careers. “We didn’t want to be like those twins that live in the same house, drive the same car… We wanted to be individuals,” Zyon said in January 2024. And, indeed that has been successful in achieving the same.