As discussed in our first player spotlight that covered Julio Jones and his potential role on the Buccaneers offense, we will be continuing to look at interesting players that the 2022 season could hinge on.
In this iteration of the Player Spotlight, we will be taking a look at Devin White!
Devin White was the 5th overall selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2019 NFL draft out of LSU. Since joining the Bucs, White has been a focal point for our defense, pairing with Lavonte David to create one of the best linebacker tandems in the league.
White’s best year as a pro was during the 2020 season, which concluded with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers holding the Lombardi trophy, and that is not a coincidence….. White was a key factor in propelling the Bucs to the success that they had, making key plays down the stretch frequently. Devin White is a young guy but he has proven his value.
While his production last year may have taken a dip from the year previous….. his stats were still incredible as he logged 128 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.
This year is an instrumental year for Devin White as he’s looking to show the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he should be paid as one of the top linebackers in the league, and his value will not only be measured in his statistics, but how well he leads the defense.
There is still uncertainty around the contract status of Lavonte David, and if Tom Brady decided to leave or retire after this year, it wouldn’t be out of the question for David to decide to chase another ring in a town that would be more set up than Tampa would be without the GOAT, so if the chips fall that way, the Bucs will NEED White to be not just one of the centerpieces of our defense, they will need him to be THE GUY on our defense.
This is the year for him to show that, and I think that he will. I really hope David is still lined up next to him in the future, but I think White can be the guy that we need as well.
Devin White showed the attitude he has towards this season earlier in the off season when he stated that it is “Superbowl or bust” this year in Tampa, and that’s exactly the type of attitude I hope rubs off on the young guys that will look to White as a leader.
What type of role do you see Devin White having for Tampa this season and beyond?
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