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Buccaneers: First quarter awards for the 2017 season

By Philip Schwegler

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against Kendell Beckwith #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the game on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 24: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against Kendell Beckwith #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the game on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against Kendell Beckwith #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the game on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Jerick McKinnon #21 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against Kendell Beckwith #51 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the game on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially through their first quarter of the 2017 NFL Season.

There’s been ups and downs, but trust me there’s plenty of football ahead for the Buccaneers. Last season Tampa Bay was 1-3 through their first four games. Sitting at 2-2 heading to a very beatable Arizona Cardinals team is just what the Bucs can use to kick start the next stretch of games.

Through their first four games, there’s been obvious winners during that span. Winning comes with accolades and awards. Let’s look at those players and what you can look forward to from them during the second quarter of football.

Our first award, goes to the rookie who’s made the biggest impact to this point.

Rookie of the Quarter

There is only one true stand out from this rookie class, thus far, and if you haven’t noticed his outstanding play then let me catch you up to speed.

Cornerstone middle linebacker Kwon Alexander tweaked his hamstring back in Week One. The Buccaneers moved over rookie linebacker Kendell Beckwith to fill his spot while he’s been recovering.

Towards the end of the first game against the Bears, when Beckwith took over, you wouldn’t have been able to tell Alexander went out. The Louisiana State University prospect has been a standout in each of his three starts so far this year.

Constantly making Pro Football Focus’ “Linebackers of the Week”, Beckwith has proven that draft position has nothing to do with how a player can perform.

Remember, this was a guy coming off an ACL injury going through the draft. Miraculously, there are no signs of injury since he started in camp. Currently, Beckwith is ranked 6th in PFF’s race to Rookie of the Year.

The reason Beckwith is deserving of this award, thus far, is because not only did he start and fill in for the wounded Alexander, he did so at such a high level that the team could count on him to get the job done. For that, your Rookie of the Quarter is linebacker, Kendell Beckwith.

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