Jets UDFA comes out of nowhere to steal the show in preseason opener

The New York Jets opened up the preseason on Friday night with a 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game capped off a busy week for both teams, which included two joint practices.

Of all the rookies to make their debut for the Jets on Friday, which included Cade Klubnik and David Bailey, it was an under-the-radar rookie who stole the show.

UDFA cornerback Mory Bamba shined in the secondary with four passes defended on the night. Bamba also showcased himself on special teams as a gunner throughout the game.

Preseason football is always full of great underdog stories, and Bamba's debut on Friday could be the beginning of an under-the-radar player making a push for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Mory Bamba came out of nowhere in New York Jets preseason opener

The Jets signed Bamba as a UDFA out of BYU shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft. Bamba's football career hasn't been a linear path, though, dating back to his days in high school.

A track star throughout his early life, the BYU product didn't play cornerback until his senior year of high school in 2019. Bamba then began his collegiate athletic career running track for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, a Division III school. He then transferred to ASA College in Florida.

Bamba then returned to the football field in 2022 when he joined BYU, where he has spent the last four years. Across four seasons at BYU, Bamba played 36 games with eight starts, tallying 48 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and nine passes defended.

With limited opportunities on the field, Bamba was never able to truly showcase himself as a corner, but his athleticism has always been fully on display. During BYU's pro day, the 25-year-old ran a blazing 4.27 40-yard dash, which would have led all cornerbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine this year.

Bamba also possesses a 9.53 Relative Athletic Score. There's no denying what Bamba brings from an athletic standpoint; the next step is turning the athletic traits into real on-field production.

Entering training camp and even after tonight's performance, Bamba has an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster.

However, if he continues to stack performances like this over the next two weeks and showcases special-teams value, there could be an opening for the UDFA to earn a roster spot. Especially when factoring in the struggles of players like Arian Smith.

Keep an eye on Bamba Island.

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