The Tampa Bay Bucs addressed one of their biggest needs on defense when they drafted Noah Spence in the second round.

The linebacker from Eastern Kentucky brings an edge pass rush the Bucs have been lacking for a while. He also brings some baggage, which he’s looking to shed.

Spence hasn’t played a down of NFL football. But that hasn’t stopped comparisons to one of the game’s greatest pass rushers.

“He kind of reminds me of Von Miller," Bucs defensive end Robert Ayers said. "Their body language, their body movement, their build, you know, their stature, their arm lift and things like that,  they’re real similar.”

Those similar traits are part of the reason the Bucs took a chance on Spence, spending a second-round pick on him. It was a gamble given the linebacker’s past. Spence is a story of redemption, having overcome drug addiction and an exile from Ohio State. He’s got a renewed outlook on life and a recommitment to football, which showed at the Bucs rookie mini camp.

”There weren’t no pads on or nothing like that, but it was still exciting just to have the uniform on, just to be out here with the guys and stuff,” Spence said.

From his short stint at Ohio State to his dominating performances at Eastern Kentucky, Spence consistently solidified himself as one of the top pass rushers in this year’s draft. He addresses a major need on the Bucs defense.

”From every level he’s been at, he’s always been able to rush the passer and that doesn’t just go away,” Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said.

The Bucs have been lacking a true pure edge rusher since Simeon Rice lit up the league with 14 sacks in 2005. Spence might finally fill that void.