Kancey played in one game his freshman year at Pittsburgh in 2019, the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl, and took a redshirt. In 2020, he played in 11 games and started the final four games of the season. He recorded 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks. As a 14-game starter in 2021, Kancey had 35 tackles and seven sacks and was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.[4] He returned to Pittsburgh as a starter in 2022 where he was named a unanimous All-American. He finished the season with 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 14.5 tackles for loss which lead the nation for interior defenders.[5][6]
Kancey was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft with the 19th overall pick.[9] Kancey was named Defensive Rookie of the Month for November of the 2023 season.[10]
After re-aggravating a calf injury during his debut in a Week 1, 20–17 win over the Minnesota Vikings,[11] Kancey played his first full NFL game in a Week 6, 20–6 loss to the Detroit Lions, during which he recorded six quarterback pressures and his first career sack.[12][13]
In his first career playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kancey recorded four tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, helped contribute to a safety, and helped contribute to stopping not just one, but two Brotherly Shove attempts in the Buccaneers' Wild Card Round victory. The Buccaneers remain the only team to do so.[14]