The National Football League today announced that Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White has been named NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for the month of November.
In Weeks 9-13, White totaled 46 tackles (three for loss), five quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed, one interception and one fumble recovery, which he returned 14 yards for a touchdown. His 46 tackles ranked sixth in the NFL during that span and first among rookies. He also tied for first among rookies for forced fumbles, while being tied for third in tackles for loss and quarterback hits and tied for fourth in sacks among rookies during that time.
White becomes just the third Buccaneers defensive player to win the monthly rookie award in team history, joining Lavonte David (Nov. 2012) and Noah Spence (Nov. 2016).
Against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, White collected a team-high 12 tackles, his first career half-sack and a pair of forced fumbles. The Louisiana State product topped that total with a career-best 13 tackles in Week 11 vs. New Orleans – the fifth-most tackles recorded in a game by a Buccaneers rookie since 2010. The following week at Atlanta, White became the first Buccaneers rookie since 2010 to record multiple sacks in a single game to go along with his eight tackles in Week 12.
White finished the month by registering his first career interception at Jacksonville in Week 13, adding seven tackles and two passes defensed in a performance highlighted by a fumble recovery returned for his first career touchdown. He joined Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush and Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick as the only players this season to record an interception and a fumble returned for a touchdown in the same game.
White is Tampa Bay's second NFC monthly award winner in 2019, after outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.
-BUCCANEERS-
