Bucs rookie Rachaad White has done a great job through the first few days of training camp. He’s picked up the mental side of the game and has gotten the installs down. The burst and vision that he displayed in college appear to be there, as are his receiving skills. But things will pick up and we’ll get a real look at him once the pads come on.

“He’s very intelligent,” Bowles said. “The shorts and t-shirt thing right now – I think everybody’s having a good camp because it’s all mental and some speed and some movement. Once we start hitting and the installs increase and you get a look at who can retain information and execute on the field, I think that starts to work itself out. But he’s a very heady player. We liked him when we drafted him. He understands what to do, he has great vision and it will be exciting to see him in pads.”

White came into camp full of energy and with a veteran mentality. He’s had his nose in the playbook and has shown a real maturity as he enters his rookie season. That hasn’t been lost on coaches or the guy who drafted him, general manager Jason Licht.

“I would say Rachaad White has done a fantastic job,” Licht said. “He’s got a very mature approach, reminds me of [Chris] Godwin when he came in as a rookie — wanting to get all his ducks in a row before training camp so he could focus just on football.”

All of White’s focus is on football right now and putting himself in the best position to secure a role on the team. He’s seen limited reps in practice with veterans Leonard Fournette, Giovani Bernard and Ke’Shawn Vaughn ahead of him, but is isn’t discouraged. Just like he earned his spot in college, he’s going to do everything he can to earn his opportunity with the Bucs.

“I’ve just got to just trust the process and take advantage of every opportunity,” White said in his recent training camp diary entry. “That’s what I have been trying to focus on. Everybody wants more reps, but you’ve got to earn it. Nothing is given, you got to earn everything.”