In ESPN’s sixth installment of offseason polls, featuring NFL executives, scouts, and coaches anonymously ranking their Top 10 players in 11 different positions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving’s name was mentioned among the NFL’s best.
While the Buccaneers running back did not officially make the Top 10, he was an honorable mention, making fans wonder what more the Bucs’ rookie needed to do to be ranked in the Top 10.
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Irving put together an impressive rookie season, rushing for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns on 207 carries, while splitting time with Rachaad White. The former Oregon Duck finished with a 90.8 grade from PFF, the highest among any rookie, and ended his rookie campaign with a 37.1% missed tackle percentage, which also led the NFL. Irving also set a franchise record with 5.4 yards per attempt, which is the third-highest in NFL history, trailing only Adrian Peterson’s 5.6 yards per attempt in 2007 and Clinton Portis’s 5.5 yards per attempt in 2002.
One NFL coordinator noted Irving’s tenacity while carrying the ball, saying, “Combination of speed, quickness, and contact balance. Heck of a runner. Rarely goes down on first contact.”
In 2024, the Bucs RB corps rushed for 2536 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt, both franchise records, and are returning all eleven starters. With a year of experience under his belt and earning a full-time starting role for 2025, Irving will be looking to leave no uncertainty as he attempts to cement his name among the league’s top running backs.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs player mentioned in league wide poll for best at his position