Vincent Testaverde Jr. hopes to score his own Buccaneers jersey

A lot of pro players that come to Tampa Bay end up making the Bay Area their permanent homes, where they raise their families. For the first time, next week, two sons of Buccaneers will get their shot to make the team their dads starred for.

Clemson linebacker J.D. Davis is the son of Jeff Davis. And then there’s the son of the Bucs’ number-one pick in 1987, Vincent Testaverde Jr., who's looking to earn his own Bucs jersey.

"I'm excited and ready to go,” the younger Testaverde told FOX 13's Kevin O'Donnell. "I'm going to do everything I can to take advantage of it."

While they share the same name, Vincent Testaverde's road to the Bucs has been a much longer path home. His college career began in 2014 as an understudy to 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, whom he had to replace his freshman year because of an injury.

It was a difficult situation facing Texas in a prime-time game. Despite having played just two years of high school football, Vincent had a respectable debut, completing 15 of 26 passes for 116 yards.

"When he went down, it was like, the next play, you're in,” he recalled. "I had to gather myself up real quick and just tell myself, 'Hey, here it is'.  This is the stage you have to get ready for it. Time to go.’"

Vincent transferred to play for his father's alma mater in Miami before finishing his career at Albany this past season. He wants to prove to the Bucs he has what it takes to play at the next level.

"When they put me in with the offense, it may not be my team yet, but that's how you have to handle it,” he continued. "You have to take command of the huddle and take command of the offense. Show your teammates and your coaches that, hey, when this guy is in, he's the leader of the group."

Vincent believes he couldn't be more prepared for this moment. He's learned a lot from his father, who quarterbacked in the NFL for eight teams across 21 years. He spent his first college season playing for Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech, who now takes over as the Arizona Cardinals head coach, and then two years at the University of Miami playing for Mark Richt before finishing his college career at the University of Albany.

But it's his dad's influence that has helped him the most. 

"I've learned a bunch from him,” Testaverde added. "What sound offense looks like. How to read defenses, situational stuff. Really everything I've learned from him and the coaches I've had."

Vincent knows his next challenge won't be easy. He'll be one of four rookie quarterbacks auditioning with likely just one being asked back for training camp. But this Testaverde is just appreciative to have a chance.