There has been a lot of hype over Rachaad White taking over as the Bucs’ starting running back this offseason as he enters his second year in Tampa Bay. But fourth-year running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn has been mostly overlooked until now.

The Bucs cut veteran Leonard Fournette earlier in the offseason due to an underwhelming performance last year and to save salary cap room. That elevated White, who rushed for 481 yards last year and one touchdown while leading the team with a 3.7-yard average, to RB1 on the depth chart.

While new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales was discussing White on the Two B’s In A Pod podcast this summer, he was quick to inject Ke’Shawn Vaughn, a backup running back, into the conversation. Vaughn, who was Tampa Bay’s third-round draft pick in 2020, is entering a contract year after being a seldom-used reserve over the past three seasons.

According to Canales, Vaughn is also entering training camp as White’s primary backup.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn Enters Bucs Camp As RB2

“I think that one of the cool parts [on offense] is Ke’Shawn Vaughn,” Dave Canales said on the 2 B’s In A Pod podcast. “We call him ‘Sneak.’ He’s our [No.] two [back], and he’s a fantastic runner. Just quick feet in the hole, sturdy build. And he’s just got a real natural feel for it.”

After years serving as the Bucs’ third-string running back, Vaughn will have a chance at more snaps on the field in 2023. In three seasons in red and pewter, Vaughn has logged 79 carries for 342 yards with two touchdowns.

Bucs RB KeShawn Vaughn – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

His best season came in 2021, when he had a career-high 26 carries for 180 yards and two TDs. Vaughn started one regular season game when Leonard Fournette was injured that season in addition to the Bucs’ Wild Card playoff win over the Eagles. Vaughn ran for 53 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia, and has 74 career yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in postseason duty.

Vaughn has seen limited opportunities in the passing game so far in his career, evidenced by just 12 career catches for 79 yards and one touchdown, along with two catches for nine yards in the postseason. In addition to a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons in college (both at Vanderbilt), Vaughn caught 66 passes for 648 yards and three touchdowns in his career (split between Illinois and Vanderbilt), including 28 receptions for 270 yards (9.1 avg.) and one score as a senior.

Vaughn has made strides as a receiver over the past two seasons in Tampa Bay, and that progress has propelled him for the time being over newcomer Chase Edmonds, Patrick Laird and Ronnie Brown for the No. 2 running back role heading into camp.

Dave Canales Expects No Drop Off In Run Production When Ke’Shawn Vaughn Plays

Bucs RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn – Photo by: USA Today

Dave Canales has noted that Rachaad White has the skills to be a three-down back in Tampa Bay, but that the Bucs may not experience a drop off in production when Ke’Shawn Vaughn steps in to relieve him.

“I think the one thing that I’ve seen from him first-hand is just how versatile he is,” Canales said of White. “He’s got smooth hands. He’s got great vision and pace, patience in the hole, and then he’s got like he’s got some really cool hidden power. He showed that in the Seahawks game where we played them in Germany where he can run between the tackles and get positive yards. So I’m really excited to see like how we can utilize him in different ways, getting him the ball in space different ways. He’s exciting. Rachaad’s really exciting to think about how to use and see what kind of back we could have. He’s a three-down back.

“So I think Rachaad will learn to appreciate what it looks like to go, go, go, and nothing falls off when Sneak comes in. And we just keep rolling, and keep rolling the ball the way we want to.”