When the Bucs drafted running back Rachaad White in the third round of the 2022 Draft, he made it clear that he wanted to come in and make an impact right away.

White’s goal from the beginning was to be Tampa Bay’s starting running back, despite the fact that Leonard Fournette had just re-signed on a three-year, $21 million deal. The rookie didn’t quite unseat Fournette for the starting job, but the team’s Week 1 depth chart shows that he’ll get a chance to contribute from the jump. He’ll open the 2022 season as the Bucs’ starting kick returner.

The Arizona State product got his chance to return kicks in the preseason, and it was something he enjoyed – and it’s a role he’s happy to have as the Bucs open up their season in Dallas on Sunday night.

“It was fun in preseason. A chance to get out there early, get the ball in my hands and make some plays, get good field position for the offense. It was fun to get out there with a bunch of my guys I came in with, my rookies, undrafted and drafted,” White told Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds this week. “Just put a lot of trust into it, in what coach had going with the scheme and things like that. It was fun, it was a smooth thing. I’m just blessed to be a part of the roster and blessed that coach trusts me to be the starting kick returner.”

White had a 33-yard kickoff return in Tennessee and won that job from wide receiver Jaelon Darden, who will still return punts.

Bucs RBs Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In addition to claiming the starting kick returner role, White also climbed the depth chart with a strong preseason, going from RB4 to RB2. Make no mistake about it: Fournette is a three-down back. But as the No. 2, White will see time in the backfield, which he sees as the next step in his journey.

“I’m just blessed that the coaches feel that I should be RB2 and be playing all over the field,” White said. “You’ve got a bunch of goals and standards for yourself and you’re trying to reach them. And you’re knocking off stepping stones and milestones in order to get to the big goal that I know I’ve got and want to accomplish for myself. It’s just a blessing. I’m trying to put my best foot forward for the team. Guys have been rallying around me. I’m earning more trust, things like that from coaches and players. And I’m just trying to keep going, building and stacking days.”

White Has Impressed Bucs Coaches And Teammates Already

Some rookies enter the NFL and start slow. That hasn’t been the case with White, who has made an impression on his quarterback, Tom Brady, who happens to be the greatest quarterback of all time.

“He’s been really impressive. Now it really matters, so this is where you’ve got to go see what you’re all about,” Brady said Thursday. “I think the guys that do well in this league go from being an amateur to being a professional. When you’re an amateur in college – well, I guess they’re not really amateurs anymore, they’re getting paid – but there’s a different level of commitment at the professional level, when this is your job and you’re required to show up every day and do it. We play 20-plus games a year – that’s very different.

“There’s a lot of physical preparation, there’s a lot of mental work you need to do to maximize your opportunity, and emotionally you’ve got to be in a good place. He’s a good young player, he’s got to establish it every day, he’s got to gain the trust of his teammates and the coaches in order for him to be confident and for us to be confident in him, for him to be confident out there on the field. He’s worked really hard, put himself in a good position, and we’ll see how he does Sunday night.”

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Brady made it clear that while White has impressed during training camp and in the preseason, he has to continue building trust with the players around him. How well he continues to do that will ultimately determine his role as the season progresses.

But Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich said Thursday that the 23-year-old’s poise and maturity has been on full display. He echoed Brady’s thoughts, saying that they’ll wait and see how he continues to grow from week to week.

“We’ll see. Obviously, he will have a role – it’s Week 1,” Leftwich said. “Obviously, he came in and had a heck of a camp – a hell of a camp. He’s a real adult kid. He’s a rookie, but he acts like he’s been in this league before. So, we’ll see what his role is. As the year goes on, his role will show itself, but right now, we’re just ready to play. We’re just ready to go out and play – try to execute and try to find a win to the football game [on] Sunday night.”

As for White, Sunday night’s matchup between the Bucs and Cowboys will be his first taste of NFL regular season action. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, he’s not letting the moment get to him.

“I’m really excited. I’m just the type of guy, like I’m never too high or never too low. So, I’m going in there with a locked-in mindset, but also making sure I just have fun,” White said. “At the end of the day, it’s just football. You practice, you watch your film, you do whatever you need to do so you can be prepared and feel prepared. As long as you’re prepared, you aren’t even worried about anything. So, I’m just making sure I’m prepared and when it comes to Sunday, just go out there and do my job and have fun.”