23. Buccaneers OLB Lavonte David – 2013-current

By Trevor Sikkema

In his early days, David played football at Northwestern High School in Miami, Florida, where he became a two-time state champion in 2006 and 2007 – helping lead his team to undefeated seasons in both years. After that he committed to play football at the University of Nebraska where he started in all 27 games he appeared in. In 2011, his final year, David was a finalist for the Butkus Award (Top Linebacker), semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award (Top Defensive Player) and semifinalist for the Lott Trophy (Top Defensive IMPACT Player).

Bucs LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

David was drafted in the second round No. 58 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012. he debuted against the Carolina Panthers on September 9th in his rookie year and hasn’t looked back. Through the course of that year, he was named Defensive Player of the Month and was named to the PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team. To round out that rookie season, David led the Buccaneers in tackles with 139, which was tied for the seventh-most in the NFL. He also posted 112 solo tackles, the second-most in the league.

Now, at 27 years old, David ranks first in solo tackles and second in total tackles among all NFL players since entering the league in 2012. He’s started every single game he’s participated in since being drafted, which is 78-out-of-78. On August 9, 2015, David agreed to a five-year, $50.25 million contract extension with $25.56 million guaranteed with the Buccaneers. He followed up that big contract by making his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Right now David is 5th all-time on the Buccaneers total career tackles list with 472. Though he has a long way to go to overtake Derrick Brooks as that top man, if health is on his side, he’s on pace to do it.

Sikkema’s Take: “It’s not easy playing in the shadow of one of the greatest players to play the game at your position. However, as opposed to trying to compare himself to what Brooks was to the Buccaneers’ franchise, David has become more of a renaissance man of it; he seems to have embraced the honor of being the possible second coming, rather than the pressure of it. Coverage, leadership, tackling, pass rushing, David can do it all. He’s everything you’d want from a linebacker, and deserves even more accolades than he’s been given. When it’s all said and done. he has a chance to be much, much higher on this list.”