TAMPA — To succeed in the personnel department of the Buccaneers, it helps to have an archaeologist’s mindset.
No NFL team has turned over more rocks in an effort to find treasure than the Bucs, who are proving that small schools can produce big dividends on the football field.
Three players who had never taken an NFL snap before this season — guard Ali Marpet (Hobart College), wide receiver Donteea Dye (Heidelberg) and defensive end Howard Jones (Shepherd University) — are making key contributions while hailing from colleges that have hardly been described as football factories.
“If they see talent, they’re going to bring you in,’’ said Dye, who caught a seven-yard touchdown pass at Washington last week in his second NFL game.