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The Bucs have signed a new running back after their first preseason game.
Tampa Bay added former North Dakota State running back Barika Kpeenu, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, who reported the news on X on Sunday.
Kpeenu ran for 1,005 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Bison in 2025, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He also caught 20 passes for 247 yards (12.4 avg.) and a touchdown.
Bucs are signing undrafted rookie RB Barika Kpeenu, who played at North Dakota State in college. Rushed for 1,005 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2025.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 16, 2026
Kpeenu totaled 2,277 yards on 434 carries (5.2 avg.) and scored 34 touchdowns at North Dakota State where he played with right guard Cody Mauch in 2022.
Th 5-foot-9, 213-pounds running back also totaled 35 catches for 369 yards (10.5 avg.) and two touchdowns. He was clocked with 4.66 time in the 40-yard dash coming out of college.
Bucs Make A Roster Move At Running Back
Mistakes in games can have consequences, and Kadarius Calloway, the Bucs’ fifth-string running back, was released after a sub-par rookie debut in Tampa Bay’s 24-16 win over the Jets in the preseason opener. On Sunday, Tampa Bay signed running back Barika Kpeenu to replace him.
Bucs RB Barika Kpeenu – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect
Calloway, who was an undrafted free agent muffed a kickoff, which he advanced for just 10 yards, in the first quarter in New York, and he only had 13 yards on eight carries (1.6 avg.). He was the only Tampa Bay ballcarrier that didn’t average at least three yards per carry on Friday night. Josh Williams led all Bucs rushers with 27 yards on eight carries (3.4 avg.), including a touchdown.
Tampa Bay currently has five running backs on its training camp roster – starter Bucky Irving and backups Kenneth Gainwell, Sean Tucker, Williams and Kpeenu. The Bucs will likely keep four running backs on the final 53-man roster, which will be assembled after the final preseason game later in August.
Scott Reynolds is in his 30th year of covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the vice president, publisher and senior Bucs beat writer for PewterReport.com. Author of the popular SR's Fab 5 column on Fridays, Reynolds oversees web development and forges marketing partnerships for PewterReport.com in addition to his editorial duties. A graduate of Kansas State University in 1995, Reynolds spent six years giving back to the community as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach for his sons' Pop Warner team, the South Pasco Predators. Reynolds can be reached at: [email protected]
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