When the Buccaneers promoted wide receiver Donteea Dye from the practice squad to the active roster earlier this week, the team immediately got faster.
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Dye, a rookie out of Division 3 Heidelberg University in Ohio earned a trip to training camp after impressing during a try-out. He capitalized on the opportunity, performing well enough to land on the Bucs' practice squad. After several roster moves earlier this week, Dye found himself on the active roster preparing for his first NFL game.
During camp, it was apparent that Dye was fast. On Thursday, he revealed to reporters exactly how fast.
"I ran a 4.2 about three times – sophomore and junior year in college," Dye said of his 40-yard dash time. "4.27 on grass and turf. It's just a number, I just want to play fast. I think that's what helped me here, to be honest."
At his pro day at Bowling Green, Dye was officially clocked at 4.47 and 4.45. Comparatively, Bobby Rainey ran a 4.51 coming out of college and Doug Martin ran a 4.55. Dye could very well be the fastest player on the Bucs' roster.
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"To everybody he's a little bit of an unknown," Head Coach Lovie Smith said. "Played small college football. He's a guy that worked his way up – made the team, undrafted rookie, worked very hard in practice, flashed every day in practice, he makes plays against our defense in practice. He's been elevated, he's going to get some time and we'll see what he can do. He's got some juice, he's got some confidence. It'll be a big week for him. He's playing in his first NFL game. He's come along way. I'm proud of the guy. You got to admire what he's accomplished. It's a good story."
