Bucs Add Another Running Back
May 13th, 2024
Cleared Hurdle No. 1.
After poring over dozens of hours of college game film of Tampa Bay’s tryout players over the weekend, even letting a platter of Hooters Buffalo Shrimp get cold, Joe picked one guy to write about.
And now he has a contract.
He’s University of Kentucky rookie running back Ramon Jefferson, one of two Bucs tryout players to get a contract to join the expanded offseason roster. The other is cornerback Andrew Hayes, the pride of Central Arkansas and Ouchita Baptist universities.
Jefferson started his career at the University of Maine, where he was coached by new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Then he moved on to Sam Houston State and later the University of Kentucky in 2022, where he was coached again by Coen and had more injuries.
Two carries into the 2022 season, Jefferson blew out his knee in Week 1 and lost the rest of the Kentukcy season. It was an especially long ACL rehab. Last season, Jeffereson was used sparingly (28 carries for 184 yards). But the 5-9, 200-pounder from New York City, did rip off a 74-yard run against Alabama.
Joe is always interested rookie running backs. They’re a wild card and, if Jefferson can survive the spring, there’s a great chance fans will see him in preseason. He’ll compete with the Bucs’ stable of veterans, rookie fourth-round pick Bucky Irving and fellow undrafted free agent D.J. Williams.
May 13th, 2024 at 11:34 am
White, and Irving are locks. After them, it is wide open.
May 13th, 2024 at 11:45 am
The Bucs will draft a RB early next year. MLB, CB, RB, WR in the first four rounds … BPA.
May 13th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
I’m excited to see these young RBs in camp. They really are wildcards. Unlike other positions, these guys could easily be starters. I remember watching DJ Wiliams at FSU a few years back and thought he was going to be the next great Seminole RB. He’s someone to keep an eye on too.
May 13th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
SlyPirate…you’ve got it all figured out already?lol
May 13th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
First pick will be DT — unless Logan Hall has a stellar season this year. Just like picking Braswell as the potential JTS replacement.
May 13th, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Jefferson had a really good first practice, right? Good luck to him.
May 13th, 2024 at 1:27 pm
Joe- bad decision to let those great shrimp get cold! :). DJ Williams tape didn’t look bad. Similar runner as White preferring to run over tacklers. Much better vision at the LOS than White and really finishes his runs hard, so he might be a good short yardage back. Let’s see how he does….
May 13th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
can we find one thats 5’9 and 245 and runs a 4.5 and can cut as well as blow through the hole?
May 13th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
Braswell actually Shaq Barrett replacement.
May 13th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
Would prefer a proven NFL back like ROJO on a one year prove it deal.
May 13th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
There is more than one reason ROJO is out of the league right now. He had the talent but he lacked the maturity.
May 13th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
That is the great thing about aging , most learn and mature. ROJO at 26 has a lot of tread left on the tires and you cannot teach 4.3 speed , you either have it or you don’t.
May 13th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
BucsFan Says:
“ROJO at 26 has a lot of tread left on the tires and you cannot teach 4.3 speed, you either have it or you don’t.”
LOL – Rojo “don’t have it”. Not 4.3 speed anyways… He ran a 4.65 40 at the combine…
May 13th, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Look at his ProDay tape at USC he ran a 4.28-Yeah he has it and you also may want to look at the Bucs record 98 yard TD run , they had the angle and still could not touch him.
May 13th, 2024 at 2:28 pm
ROJO also hurt his hammy during the combine run at 4.65 , so that time is meaningless. ROJO was also a star on the USC track team.
May 13th, 2024 at 2:39 pm
bring on the competition
May 13th, 2024 at 2:51 pm
Exactly my point
May 13th, 2024 at 3:24 pm
Camp bait
May 13th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
BucsFan Says:
“Look at his ProDay tape at USC he ran a 4.28-Yeah he has it”
BucsFan – WTF? – you are just pulling wishfull #s out your butt for some reason.
“In front of more than a dozen NFL scouts at Cromwell Field at the Loker Track Stadium on USC’s campus Thursday morning, Jones lowered his 40 time, running 4.48 seconds in the first and best of his two attempts at the 40-yard dash, according to electronic times kept by school officials.”
ROJO had decent speed – but nothing like what you are suggesting.
Jones played his best ball and certainly played his part in our Super Bowl winning season (2020) which deserves some respect – but he was mentally weak and was out of the NFL after only 5 seasons (not because of injury) – which is pretty close to a “bust” for a high 2nd rd draft pick…..
May 13th, 2024 at 4:11 pm
His tape looks good from Houston. You can see why so many SEC schools wanted this kid. Way better between the tackles than Bucky. ….. If he can field kickoffs he’s got the skillset to be very good there too. Good North South runner with good re acceleration after the cut or broken tackles. Reads blockers well and accelerated through the holes.
If he pass blocks we’ll he’s better than Bucky on 1st and 2nd down already.
Don’t sleep on this kid.
May 13th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Good luck to this young man.
May 13th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
The RB position is interesting this year, for sure. With the addition of Jefferson, the Bucs now have 7 RB’s on their roster. I can’t remember them carrying that many into camp in a long time, even back when they had actual fullbacks on the team. Iwas kind of surprised that Patrick Laird wasn’t among the cuts. 2 years on the practice squad without a call-up.
May 13th, 2024 at 5:51 pm
Boss, you caught my eye with that description busting through the line.. Keift could be the guy. Tightend is now running up the middle baby.
May 13th, 2024 at 8:43 pm
It would be super cool if any of these backs break out. None of them could’ve done anything with last year’s o-line. (Nobody talks about how Mauch was the lowest rated linemen on the team last year. He better SERIOUSLY improve.)
May 13th, 2024 at 9:59 pm
Boss Jerome Berris is retired lol
May 13th, 2024 at 10:02 pm
Shane let’s see what Mauch can do this season . He came on late in the season . Hope he breaks out like cappa did .
May 13th, 2024 at 11:33 pm
Coen coached him it’s not what you k own it’s who u know.the most true phrase in life it’s everywhere u go in life
May 13th, 2024 at 11:35 pm
O’Callaghan that sounds like a friggin threat r u mafia wanna b
May 14th, 2024 at 9:39 am
From you guys descriptions it sounds like he’s a combination of Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, Marshawn Lynch, Mike Alstott and Pee Wee Herman on the field. Let’s hope he’s not 99.8,% Pee Wee. If he can make the team and/or practice squad, will be a great accimplishment. Good luck to this young man.
May 14th, 2024 at 9:52 am
If he’s fully rehabbed, he could have a chance at making the final roster. But I see him more as a practice squad player. Hopefully he stays healthy and gets his shot when called up because he has the goods.