Bucs Gameday

Buccaneers Rookie Running Back on New Kickoffs: 'Make One Guy Miss And You're Gone'

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie put his words into action later in the week.

David Harrison

Jul 25, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) works out during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 25, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) works out during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports / Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving may be new to playing football at the pro level, but he's already saying things to show he's got a pretty good grasp of where his left and right limits are.

Irving is looking to come in and team up with Buccaneers primary back Rachaad White and veteran backup Chase Edmonds to form a trio of players new offensive coordinator Liam Coen can use to exploit defensive vulnerabilities and take a little pressure off of quarterback Baker Mayfield.

However, Irving can help Tampa Bay in other ways as well. Namely, as a kick returner, and he says the NFL's new rules regarding the special teams play set him up nicely to do big things for his team.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving.
Jul 25, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) works out during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports / Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

“I feel good about the new kickoff rule, because if you make one guy miss you’re gone,” Irving said on Monday after practice.

Then on Tuesday night, he did this.

Practice or not, it's clear Irving has playmaking potential that could suit this Bucs team well and might help them take advantage of the new kickoff rules.

“He’s one of the guys training back there, so we’ll keep going," head coach Todd Bowles said after Tuesday night's practice. "He’s a very good one-cut runner. We just asked him to do what he did in college. He did that tonight.”

READ MORE: 5 Key Takeaways From Day 7 of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp 2024

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David Harrison

DAVID HARRISON

David Harrison has been in sports media since 2015 using written, audio, and video media to cover athletes, coaches, and games. In addition to covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for BucsGameday and Locked On Bucs he also covers the Washington Commanders for Commander Country and Locked On Commanders and the Washington Wizards for Inside the Wizards. David also covers the NFL as a whole as one of the Friday hosts for Locked On NFL. He is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and previously spent 20 years as an active member of the United States Army. Contact David via email at david.w.harrison82@gmail.com or on Twitter @DHarrison82.