Bucky Irving

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected by the Buccaneers as a fourth-round pick (125th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected by the Buccaneers as a fourth-round pick (125th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES:

1x NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 13, 2024).

2024 PFWA All-Rookie Team.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Has appeared in 17 career games for the Buccaneers, making two starts and totaling 207 carries for 1,122 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. Also added 47 receptions for 392 yards.

Has played in one postseason contest, logging 17 carries for 77 yards and adding two receptions for six yards and one touchdown.

Irving led all rookies in scrimmage yards (1,514), rushing yards (1,122) and rushing touchdowns (8) during the 2024 season.

In 2024, Irving became the first Tampa Bay rusher to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season since Doug Martin did so in 2015.

Irving's 5.4 yards per carry in 2024 was the third-highest mark in NFL history among rookies with at least 200 rushing attempts in a season, trailing only Adrian Peterson (5.6 in 2007) and Clinton Portis (5.5 in 2002). His 5.4 yards per carry established a new Buccaneers single-season record for any qualified rusher.

Per Next Gen Stats, Irving forced the highest missed tackle rate among ball carriers with at least 150 touches (35.8%) during the 2024 season.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS:

Made his NFL debut in the Week 1 victory over Washington, playing 20- of-64 offensive snaps and amassing a team-high 62 rushing yards across nine carries (6.9 avg.).

Irving's 6.9 yards per carry in Week 1 marked the most by a Buccaneer running back in their first career game (min. 2 carries) in franchise history.

Irving's 62 rushing yards in Week 1 represented the highest total of any drafted running back from the 2024 draft class. The rest of the drafted running backs for the 2024 class combined for 50 yards in Week 1.

Played 17 offensive snaps in the Week 2 victory at Detroit, finishing with 22 rushing yards across seven carries.

In Week 3 vs. Denver, finished with a team-high 84 scrimmage yards in the form of 70 rushing yards across nine carries (7.8 avg.) and 14 receiving yards across three receptions.

Through his first three games, Irving had recorded 154 rushing yards on 25 carries (6.2. avg.) His 6.2 yards per carry ranked second among running backs with at least 25 carries.

In the Week 4 win over Philadelphia, played 32-of-77 offensive snaps and recorded 49 rushing yards across 10 carries, adding one rushing touchdown and one reception for six yards.

His rushing touchdown against the Eagles in Week 4 marked his first career rushing touchdown.

In Week 5 at Atlanta, played 23-of-53 offensive snaps and amassed 56 yards from scrimmage by way of 44 rushing yards on nine carries (4.9 avg.) and 12 receiving yards across two carries.

Through five weeks, Irving's 247 rushing yards led all rookie running backs.

Made his first NFL start in the Week 6 win over New Orleans, finishing with 105 scrimmage yards in the form of 81 rushing yards on 14 attempts and 56 receiving yards on three catches, adding one rushing touchdown.

In Week 6, Irving contributed to a Buccaneers rushing attack that generated 277 yards across 35 carries (7.9 avg.). It marked Tampa Bay's third-largest rushing output in a single game in franchise history, and the largest since logging a franchise-record 283 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11 of the 2015 season.

Irving and teammate Sean Tucker both eclipsed 100 scrimmage yards and scored a touchdown in the Week 6 win, marking the fourth time in franchise history that two Tampa Bay running backs recorded such performances in the same game, joining Mike Alstott and Warrick Dunn (1997, 1998), and Mike Alstott and Errict Rhett (1996).

Per Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's second-highest graded offensive player in Week 6, earning an 81.4 overall offensive grade.

Through six weeks, Irving led all rookies with 328 rushing yards.

In Week 7 vs. Baltimore, played 29- of-82 offensive snaps and totaled 77 scrimmage yards and one touchdown by way of a then-career-high 54 receiving yards on three receptions, and 23 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown on nine carries.

Irving's touchdown rush in Week 7 marked his third rushing score of the season – all of which came between Weeks 4-7.

In Week 8 vs. Atlanta, played 31-of73 offensive snaps and amassed 84 scrimmage yards in the form of 44 rushing yards on nine carries (4.9 avg.) and 40 receiving yards on a career-high seven receptions.

Per Next Gen Stats, Irving forced a then-career-high nine missed tackles in Week 8. Through 8 weeks, his missed tackle forced rate of 40.6% ranked second in the NFL among players with at least 30 touches.

Was Tampa Bay's second-highest graded offensive player in Week 8, according to Pro Football Focus, earning an 87.5 overall offensive grade.

Through 8 weeks, Irving ranked second among all rookies in scrimmage yards (559), trailing only Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. His 5.2 yards per carry through the first 8 weeks of the season led all qualified rookie running backs.

In Week 9 at Kansas City, contributed 34 scrimmage yards across seven carries for 24 yards and three receptions for 10 yards. Also added a season-best 46-yard kickoff return to open the second half.

Through 9 Weeks, Irving led all rookie running backs in receptions (23), receiving yards (174), yards per rush (5.0), rushing touchdowns (3) and rushing first downs (22).

In Week 10 vs. San Francisco, totaled 87 yards from scrimmage with one score between 13 carries for 73 yards (5.6 avg.) and one touchdown, plus three receptions for 14 yards. His 87 scrimmage yards marked his second-highest output in a single game this season at the time.

Irving's rushing touchdown in Week 10 marked his fourth of the year, which was tied for the league lead among all rookies and led all rookie running backs at the time.

He forced five missed tackles in Week 10, his second-most in a game this season at the time. Through 10 Weeks, he had forced 40 missed tackles on rushing attempts – sixth-most among all running backs.

In the Week 12 win over the New York Giants, played 34-of-65 offensive snaps and contributed a then-season-best 151 yards from scrimmage, rushing 12 times for 87 yards (7.3 avg.) and a touchdown, and hauling in six receptions for 64 yards. His 56-yard rush in the fourth quarter matched the longest run of the season for Tampa Bay.

Irving caught all six of his targets for 64 yards in Week 12, setting career highs in both receiving yards and yards after the catch (81). He led all NFL running backs in receptions, receiving yards, and yards after catch in Week 12.

Irving also excelled on the ground in Week 12, establishing then-career-highs in rushing yards (87), rushing yards over expected (+48), and yards after contact (98).

Through 12 weeks, Irving ranked fourth among qualified running backs in yards per touch, trailing only Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Played 43-of-80 offensive snaps in the Week 13 win at Carolina, racking up a season-best 185 yards from scrimmage (152 rushing, 33 receiving), in addition to scoring a rushing touchdown. It marked his third game of the 2024 season with 100+ yards from scrimmage – tied for the second-most such games among rookies at the time.

In Weeks 12-13, Irving put forth consecutive games with 150+ yards from scrimmage – the first rookie to achieve the 1,000-yard milestone since Miles Sanders in 2019. Irving joined Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley and Sanders as the only rookies to record consecutive games with 150+ yards from scrimmage since the start of the 2015 season.

Through Week 13, Irving owned both of the two highest scrimmage yard outputs by rookies in the 2024 season.

Irving's 185 yards from scrimmage in Week 13 were the sixth-most by a rookie in team history, and the most since teammate Mike Evans had 209 yards from scrimmage on 11/16/14 vs. Washington. It marked the most scrimmage yards by a Tampa Bay rookie running back since Doug Martin's 272 yards vs. the Raiders on 11/4/12.

Through 13 Weeks, Irving ranked fourth among all qualified players in both yards per carry (5.5) and yards per touch (6.1). He also ranked first in scrimmage yards (1,017) and rushing yards (732) while being tied for first in rushing touchdowns (six).

Played 10 offensive snaps in the Week 14 win vs. Las Vegas before leaving with injury. Accumulated 18 yards from scrimmage.

In the Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, played 32-of-72 offensive snaps and carried the ball 15 times for 117 yards (7.8 avg.). It marked his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season.

His 7.8 yards per carry in Week 15 marked the first time a rookie reached that mark in a game with 15-or-more carries since Miami's De'Von Achane in Week 3 of the 2023 season.

Forced five missed tackles in the Week 15 win, increasing his season total to 70 on the season — ninth-most in the NFL through 15 weeks.

Through 15 weeks, Irving led all rookies in yards from scrimmage (1,148) and rushing yards (852).

In Week 16 at Dallas, rushed 16 times for 68 yards and a touchdown (4.3 avg.) and added three receptions for 24 yards, totaling 92 yards from scrimmage.

Irving's score in Week 16 was his seventh rushing touchdown of the season — tied with Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most rushing touchdowns by a rookie running back in team history and trailing only Doug Martin (11 in 2012).

According to Next Gen Stats, Irving generated a career-high-tying seven forced missed tackles on rush attempts in Week 16. It was Irving's 10th game of the season forcing five-or-more missed tackles, tied for the third-most such games in the NFL at the time.

Through 16 weeks, Irving had generated a missed tackle forced rate of 36.8% this season, the highest among all players with at least 50 touches.

Among all rookies, Irving led in rushing touchdowns (seven), yards from scrimmage (1,240) and rushing yards (920) through 16 weeks.

In the Week 17 win over Carolina, Irving produced a season-high 190 yards from scrimmage by way of 20 carries for 113 yards and four receptions for a season-high 77 receiving yards.

With his 113 yards on the ground in Week 17, Irving reached the 1,000-yard rushing milestone, becoming the first Tampa Bay player to do so since Doug Martin in 2015.

Irving became the first Buccaneers rookie to reach the 1,000-yard mark feat since Doug Martin in 2012. Over the past five seasons, only five rookies across the league have reached 1,000 yards rushing: Tyler Allgeier (2022), Kenneth Walker (2022), Najee Harris (2021), James Robinson (2020) and Johnathan Taylor (2020).

In Week 17, Irving also recorded a season-high 111 yards after contact — the 10th-most by any player in a game this season.

Started at running back in the Week 18 win over New Orleans, playing 48-of67 offensive snaps and contributing 19 carries for 89 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Irving's score in Week 18 was his eighth rushing touchdown of the season, surpassing Errict Rhett and Lars Tate (7) for the second-most rushing touchdowns by a rookie running back in team history, trailing only Doug Martin (11 in 2012).

Irving finished the season with 207 carries for 1,122 yards (5.4 avg.) and eight rushing touchdowns, adding 47 receptions for 392 yards to give him a total of 1,514 yards from scrimmage this season. In reaching 1,500 yards from scrimmage, Irving surpassed Warrick Dunn (1,440 in 1997) for the second-most yards from scrimmage by a rookie in team history, trailing only Doug Martin (1,926 in 2012).

His 1,514 scrimmage yards and his eight rushing touchdowns led all rookies. He became just the fourth rookie since 2018 to surpass 1,500 scrimmage yards, joining Puka Nacua (2023), Najee Harris (2022) and Saquon Barkley (2018).

Irving's 5.4 yards per carry was the third-highest mark in NFL history among rookies with at least 200 rushing attempts in a season, trailing only Adrian Peterson (5.6 in 2007) and Clinton Portis (5.5 in 2002). His 5.4 yards per carry established a new Buccaneers single-season record for any qualified rusher.

Per Next Gen Stats, Irving forced the highest missed tackle rate among ball carriers with at least 150 touches (35.8%). Additionally, his 91 missed tackles forced were the fourth-most in the NFL this season.

COLLEGE:

Appeared in 39 career games between the University of Minnesota (2021) and the University of Oregon (2022-23), totaling 475 carries for 2,937 yards (6.2 avg.) and 20 rushing touchdowns while adding 95 receptions for 785 yards and five receiving touchdowns.

He received second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2023 after starting all 14 games and posting career highs in carries (186), rushing yards (1,180), rushing touchdowns (11), receptions (56) and receiving yards (413). He led all FBS running backs in receptions.

As a sophomore in 2022, started 12- of-13 games and logged 156 carries for 1,058 yards and five rushing touchdowns, adding 31 receptions for 299 yards. He subsequently received honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition for his play.

Was named the 2022 Holiday Bowl Game MVP after recording 13 carries for 149 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

As a freshman at the University of Minnesota in 2021, he logged 133 carries for 699 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the season leading the Gophers in all-purpose yards.

COMMUNITY:

Partnered with quarterback Baker Mayfield to help donate $10,000 to After-School All-Stars Tampa Bay through the Giving Bowl.

Mentored young athletes at the 2025 Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic in Tampa Bay.

PERSONAL:

Attended Hillcrest High School (Chicago, Ill.), where he lettered in football and basketball.

Earned All-State honors and was named the Conference Player of the Year as a high school senior in 2019.

As a junior in 2018, led his team to a 12-1 record and the conference title game.

Has two siblings (one brother, one sister).

Was given the nickname 'Bucky' by his late father, Marcellus.

Full name is Mar'Keise Irving.