Was Rachaad White’s Rough Rookie Year Just Another Tough Step On His Football Journey?
June 5th, 2023
Recalls tough times.
Bucs running back Rachaad White didn’t get to be a second-day draft pick the easy way.
In a sitdown with Jordan Schultz of @theScore, White explained how when he was in junior college he was lucky to have a roof over his head, sleeping in vacant homes or if he was lucky, sleeping on the floor while sharing an apartment with several guys.
While very likely most of White’s Bucs’ teammates were three-, four- or five-star recruits who went to some of the biggest football factories in the nation and had their every need met, White was borderline homeless. He didn’t know when his next meal would be, working in a warehouse hauling furniture to scrape together a few bucks.
In the video below, White said guys who loitered in front of convenience stores offered to give him money to help him because he played football.
Hearing how White’s road to the NFL and the Bucs was anything but easy, Joe has a hunch White will step up his game this fall, especially since his new offensive coordinator seems to have an idea what he’s doing. It also appears White will be the Bucs’ featured back.
.@Buccaneers RB Rachaad White has one helluva story! His perseverance, work ethic and belief is the ultimate reminder that you can achieve any goal you want!! 🫡@Chaad_1 @ASUFootball @mtsacfootball pic.twitter.com/AgCAOoG85O
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 30, 2023
June 5th, 2023 at 3:39 am
I have no doubt about it. He will improve a lot.
June 5th, 2023 at 6:57 am
Wow. It’s so easy to root for Rachaad. What a lesson in perseverance.
June 5th, 2023 at 7:19 am
He’s an amazing young man and deserves everything he’s working for.
June 5th, 2023 at 7:19 am
Love this kid ever since he said he wanted to be the #1 back last year……hopefully the new line & system will help him to flourish.
June 5th, 2023 at 8:38 am
Very excited to see White this year in a system that understands the value of a good running game and schematically emphasises his skill set. I have a feeling he could end up with 1200-1300 yds on the ground and maybe another 300+ recieving.
June 5th, 2023 at 10:20 am
I think White can be a very good running back in the NFL.
Dave Canales is like a breath of fresh air, and IMHO was a great hire.
June 5th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
I honestly hope if Bowles doesn’t hold his own in the defensive area and Canales shows what I think he will, they keep Canales as HC.
He is a young gun for sure and a coach players will gravitate towards to so they can learn/earn a competitive advantage.
White will be the benefactor of that, plus he is crazy patient, athletic and a slasher that will pile on yards. He will be sneaky good in the screen game when it’s done right.
Bowles did hire Canales, so do they keep him too?
I would not let this guy interview for a HC position without first offering him the same. You night call this premature but read how lucky we are to have him.
A lot of teams were interested when they found out but it was too late Tampa pounced. Will Canales be Todd Bowles undoing, or his possible savior?
I’m excited about several facets of this team in what is considered a down year.
The corner is, well, right around the corner.
June 7th, 2023 at 3:37 am
I Don’t understand the headline Joe. Rookie yes. Rough year enlighten me please.
Everything looked to be on track for a rookie. Fournette should have been benched by week 4 or 5. White was clearly more consistent. He improved as the season progressed. Add in the O-line problems and he did a remarkable job for a rookie. We should have seen more of the forgotten RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn and none of Fournette.