Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bucky Irving Camp Diary: Getting Into Game Mode Now

Originally posted on PewterReport.com | By Scott Reynolds | Last updated Aug 7, 2024 9:08 PM ET

Pewter Report’s Bucs Camp Diary, a popular training camp feature on PewterReport.com, returns in 2024. We are excited to have two very intriguing players to profile in veteran outside linebacker Markees Watts and rookie running back Bucky Irving, the Bucs’ fourth-round pick.

Watts was the fifth on the depth chart at outside linebacker last year and a roster spot is not assured in 2024. But he has the talent to make the team once again – and shoot up the depth chart with a great camp and preseason.

Irving will take readers through the experience of rookie life in his first training camp in Tampa Bay in Liam Coen’s new offense. The small, shifty, tackle-breaking runner and receiver is expected to back up Rachaad White and earn carries and playing time based on his camp and preseason performance.

Look for Watts’ and Irving’s Camp Diary installments each week throughout training camp and the preseason.

Bucky Irving was the Bucs’ fourth-round pick in 2024. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons at Oregon, where he averaged 6.5 yards per carry and scored 16 touchdowns on the ground, including a career-high 11 TDs in 2023. Irving was one of the most prolific receiving backs in college football over the last two years, catching 87 passes for 712 yards and five touchdowns. He led all college running backs last year with 56 receptions for 413 yards and a pair of scores. Irving is poised to be Rachaad White’s backup this year. In training camp, he’ll be determining what his role will be on the team and how many snaps he’ll earn this season.

Getting Into Game Mode Now

By Bucky Irving As Told To Scott Reynolds

We have a game coming up on Saturday, so it’s time for me to get into game mode now. I’m looking forward to putting on the pads on Saturday night. I had a nice little thud [on Tuesday] with [Tavierre Thomas] in the hole.

I’ve been trying to get some thuds in because we’re getting ready to play a game. I want to be ready. I want to go out there and do some of that in practice, so when the game comes I’ll be ready to break some tackles and make some plays.

It’s going to be amazing putting on that Bucs uniform and helmet for the first time. I can’t wait. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about – playing in the NFL. So I’m just going to go out there on Saturday night and live my dreams and compete at a high level. I don’t know anyone on the Bengals, so it’s all business for me.

Nice To Return To Practice After 2 Rainy Days Off

It was nice to get back out here to practice this week after some time off. The tropical storm wasn’t too bad. It pretty much rained every other day at Oregon, so I was used to the rain from playing up there. I just spent most of that time chilling up at my hotel room and staying inside. I tried to lay around and get some rest and some down time during our days off, but sitting around was kind [of boring] so I’m glad to be back out here on the field.

People say it’s the dog days of training camp now, but we’re just out here doing our jobs and competing against each other and taking care of our guys and getting them ready to play another team. I played a lot at Oregon and ran the ball a lot, so I don’t mind the extra work here [with Chase Edmonds out].

The more reps you get and the more you rep it in this offense, the more you can see what you need to do and when we come back to things you’ve already done it. Being able to go out there and compete at the highest level is something I’ve always done. I just have to be ready when my number is called.

Fellow Bucs Rookies On Offense Looking Good

It’s been great rooming with D.J. [Williams] in camp. We’ve been roommates since we got here, so we go over the plays together and chop it up and help each other get better. D.J. can go. He’s a big back, but he’s also explosive. Can’t wait to see what he can do in our game [at Cincinnati].

Sean [Tucker] has been making plays in camp – the plays he’s capable of making. He’s looked good. I think all of the backs have looked good. When our number is called, we’ve got to go in there and make our plays and help out the offense.

The Washington players we got have done well since the rookie mini-camp. J-Mo (Jalen McMillan) has been performing at a high level and he keeps improving. He catches the ball real well and has been making a lot of big plays for us. Devin Culp has been showcasing his speed and bursting through [the secondary] and finding the end zone, too. Both are real good players and they’re going to help us.

Looking Forward to Making Explosive Plays On Saturday In Cincinnati

Kickoff returns are going to be exciting on Saturday. I’ve been doing a lot of kick returns in practice. We’ll see what this new kickoff rule is all about. We’ve been practicing it for a long time, so being able to go out there and rep it in a real game is going to be cool.

I’m loving this offense. I like it because Liam Coen gets his backs in space and allows us to make plays – whether it’s in the run game or catching the ball out of the backfield. We can create explosive plays in many different ways. That’s what I love to do.

I feel like everything is starting to click for us offensively and everybody is getting comfortable playing in this new system. We just have to go out there, be on our details and play at a high level and make plays.