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Bucky Irving

Bucky Irving Player Profile

Summary

Bucky Irving was selected in the 4th round (125th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. University of Oregon Athletics He played college football at Oregon, after transferring from Minnesota, and over his college career amassed 2,937 scrimmage yards on 475 touches. Sports Reference In his final college season (2023), he recorded 1,180 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, and added 56 receptions for 413 yards and 2 scores. University of Oregon Athletics Known for his competitive nature, excellent vision, and contact balance, Irving is considered a tough, shifty, “do-a-little-everything” back with good receiving skills as well. PFSN

Strengths

  • Contact Balance & Toughness: Irving shows excellent contact balance, often staying upright through arm tackles and fighting for extra yardage. PFSN

  • Start-Stop Agility: He has sharp cuts, sudden bursts, and the ability to accelerate through holes after pausing or changing direction. PFSN

  • Vision / Play Recognition: He reads blocks well, lets plays develop, and can pick his spots decisively.

  • Pass-Catching Ability: Comfortable as a receiver out of the backfield, with soft hands and route-running ability.

  • Low-Center-of-Gravity Runner: Built with a compact frame, his pad level helps him navigate through traffic and break arm tackles. On3

  • Elusive / Elusion Moves: Uses lateral jumps, spin moves, and unexpected cuts to evade tacklers. On3

  • Ball Security: Historically low fumble rate — On3 noted he had very few fumbles over his college carries. On3

Weaknesses

  • Smaller Frame for Workhorse Role: At roughly 5′10″ and 195 lb, questions remain about his durability under a heavy NFL workload. Sideline Sports

  • Limited Top-End Breakaway Speed: While quick, Irving may not have the pure deep, home-run acceleration of more explosive backs. Yardbarker

  • Patience Issues: Sometimes appears too eager, freelancing instead of following blocking schemes; can hit the wrong hole in a designed concept. Yardbarker

  • Pass Protection Concerns: Not yet proven as a reliable pass blocker; could struggle with blitz pickup. PFSN

  • Lateral Change-of-Direction: Feet can “fly outside his frame” when making sharp, lateral cuts, limiting fluidity in open space. On3

Fit & Outlook

Bucky Irving projects as a complementary, versatile running back in the NFL — not necessarily a pure power back, but one who can make a big impact as a third-down back, change-of-pace runner, and receiving option out of the backfield. His skill set fits very well in zone-heavy or gap-based rushing schemes, where his vision, lateral agility, and burst can be leveraged to exploit creases. In passing offenses, he offers reliable hands and elusiveness, making him valuable in PPR or two-back systems.

Looking ahead, Irving’s outlook is promising. If he stays healthy, his contact balance and receiving ability could make him a three-down option. While his smaller frame may limit his role in a bell-cow workload early on, he has the traits to be a key piece in a running back committee and could emerge as a high-efficiency back with good upside. With continued development in pass protection and patience in his reads, he could become a consistent, all-around contributor in an NFL backfield.