As the NFL season of 2024 approaches, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the addition of two former Oregon Ducks players to the Denver Broncos roster: quarterback Bo Nix and wide receiver Troy Franklin. However, there are also several other Ducks draftees who have the potential to make a big impact in their rookie campaigns. One player that should not be overlooked is Bucky Irving, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 4th round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Irving was the seventh Oregon Duck to be drafted in the same year and was selected as the sixth running back overall. Recently, during uniformed photo shoots with his new teammates, Irving was seen wearing Tampa Bay’s Creamsicle throwback uniforms. These jerseys are a modernized version of Tampa Bay’s classic uniforms from 1976 to 1996 and have been worn as throwback jerseys since the late 2000s. Despite some talk of a ‘Creamsicle Curse’ due to poor performance while wearing them, Irving looks ready to represent the Buccaneers in style on and off the field.
At Tampa Bay, Rachaad White is currently listed as the top running back on their roster, with nearly 1000 rushing yards in his successful season last year. However, he averaged fewer than eight rushes per game, creating opportunities for other backs to get more playing time. Irving is known for his speed and power on the field, despite concerns about his size. In college, he fought for extra yards on each play and will bring that same energy to Tampa Bay’s backfield alongside White.
While Irving may not be a featured back in his NFL career, he has all the potential to become an elite change-of-pace player alongside White in Tampa Bay’s backfield. With his determination and skill set on display already at such an early stage in his career, Irving is well-positioned to make an impact in both offense and defense for years to come with this new team by his side.
This story originally appeared on Ducks Wire highlighting Bucky Irving’s potential success with Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates Bo Nix and Troy Franklin.
