Bucs Newcomer Gets Major Hype On NFL.com

“Scoop up Bucky Irving where you can,” Rank wrote. “I know Rachaad White ranked fourth among running backs with 1,539 scrimmage yards last season. But I believe it will only be a matter of time before the rookie takes over. Irving, a fourth-round pick, led Oregon with 1,180 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in 2023. He’s also a good receiver out of the backfield.”

Check out the whole article from Rank and his opinion on how the Bucs will do this year.

Praise Of Bucs’ RB Irving Has Been High Since The Draft

Many people have been fans of Irving for quite a while. Trevor Sikkema from Pro Football Focus and of Pewter Report alum was big on Irving before he was even a Buc. On the Pewter Report Podcast, Sikkema expressed that Irving was a draft crush of his.

I really like Bucky Irving,” Sikkema said. “I know he’s smaller. I know he didn’t test really great athletically, but here’s the thing – we have two metrics at PFF that I love to lean on that help separate running backs and ballcarriers from the offensive line in front of them. Because that’s the age-old question because it’s like, ‘Oh, this guy has a lot of rushing yards, a lot of rushing touchdowns, and a healthy yards-per-carry average.

“Well, is it just the offensive line in front of him? Was it him? What’s going on?’ A good way to individualize that – no matter what the offensive line is in front of him, a good one or a bad one – is missed tackles forced per attempt because that shows anytime you get in a situation where you have the ability to make a guy miss, are you making a guy miss? Bucky Irving’s is incredibly high.”

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Rachaad White has already been fond of Irving despite playing the same position and jockeying for playing time. He understands what the duo of them could be for the success of the Bucs offense this season.

“Bucky does a great job of, first thing, competing, and two, learning,” White said of his rookie teammate. “They’re (the running backs) all brilliant and they all want to understand the game more, and things like that. We talk a lot. We’ve got a good relationship. It’s huge. I think he brings a playmaker [ability] and in this offense, the more playmakers, the better. It’ll be huge. The one-two punch would be nice.”

Irving has reciprocated the positivity about White and also the rest of the running back room. He’s already benefited from their leadership as he enters into the NFL. The Bucs will figure out what kind of role Irving will have as the season goes on and he’s coming in with the right attitude on doing whatever will best help the team win.