YaYa Diaby

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 for the Georgia Military Bulldogs before transferring to the Louisville Cardinals.

YaYa Diaby

Diaby with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023
No. 0 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1999-05-30) May 30, 1999 (age 26) 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: 3rd round, 82nd pick
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

Early life

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 selected 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]