Bucky Irving Called A Cross Between Bijan Robinson And Barry Sanders

January 12th, 2025

Former All-Pro safety Rodney Harrison may be the biggest Bucky Irving fan outside the Tampa Bay area.

The NBC analyst couldn’t stop gushing about all things Irving during a sitdown with Mike Florio for a Sunday Night Football preview. Irving is a lot more than special rookie to Harrison.

“I tell you man, this Bucky Irving is special,” Harrison said. “You start to look at him and the way he runs, he kind of reminds you of Bijan Robinson a little bit, kind of Barry Sanders the way he jump cuts and he’s very patient. He’s just a really good dynamic player. And really smart move by [the Bucs] moving him to running back No. 1 because it just wasn’t cutting it with Rachaad White.”

Harrison isn’t a hot-take guy and he’s also been watching Irving a long time. It turns out Harrison played for the same youth football club in Illinois (30 years later).

Joe is so fired up for tonight, in part because Irving has a chance to take his newfound fame to a new level with postseason success.

Buckyball!

26 Responses to “Bucky Irving Called A Cross Between Bijan Robinson And Barry Sanders”

  1. Statistically Insignificant Reader Says:

    Lets hope Bowles soft zone doesn’t kill us. Can’t convince me its not also demoralizing to the team as well as the fans. healthy starters returning should make a difference. Make a statement BUCS!

  2. Bring back the lawn chairs Says:

    He’s Emmitt Smith part 2 in my book. Perhaps a tad bit lighter, but as elusive with that uncanny ability to evade tackles and run to daylight. This man’s got vision I tell you! If he gets that O-line to block for him tonight, look out Nellie, Katie bar the door.

  3. Jacob Says:

    He doesn’t have the top end speed of those guys. He reminds me more of a smaller, probably tougher Kamara.

  4. Lightningvinny Says:

    We need plenty from him and White today,,,, in the playoffs you need to run the ball to win! Run the ball 150 yards and we will be getting ready to play Eagles/ Packers winner

  5. larrd Says:

    A slower Greg Pruitt. Rare talent!

  6. Cometowin2 Says:

    We’ll be over 200 yards rushing today. Commanders suck against the run.

  7. adam from ny Says:

    bucky sorta reminds me of this great running back i saw in college…

    the running backs name was bucky irving…

    dude is one of none…

    #OneOfNone

    go bucky go…!
    run bucky run…!
    score bucky score…!

    and never wear a st. louis cardinals hat again bucky ! 🙂 🙂 🙂

  8. ModHairKen Says:

    Bijan Robinson is at home.

    Bucky Irving is a MUCH better back.

  9. John Says:

    he reminds me of a toddler thats just right out of your reach. oh, come here you lil….

  10. August 1976 Buc Says:

    He reminds me of Warrick Dunn some, smaller back that’s elusive. Warrick seemed to have more darting speed, like when he turned a 3 and 10 against Miami into a 57 yards highlight special TD that night on TNT. But again I guess I am reminded because they both played for the Bucs, but there are definite similarities.

  11. Brian Dorry Says:

    Reminds me of Brian Westbrook

  12. Todd Bowles fan club Says:

    Thank you Adam from NY. Bucky reminds me of the awesome tailback from Oregon named Bucky Irving.

  13. dmatt Says:

    Bucky doesn’t have to be fast. He’s quick, has heart, amazing peripheral vision, n produces. Emmitt Smith wasn’t fast but he produced and was a HOF. A wr doesn’t have to be fast but if he has good hands n know how to get open, he too can produce i.e., Chris Carter, Jerry Rice. Let’s get off of Bucky’s not fast. His production is what matters. I compare him to a Darren Sproles n mini Barry Sanders. Go Bucky!!!!

  14. Crickett Baker Says:

    I just saw a great documentary on Amazon about Barry Sanders. I saw a certain similarity and I hope Bucky gets better and better.
    GO BUCS!

  15. MadMax Says:

    Why did i not see this more….i pushed for him, just like Baker and Brady, Big V and Wirfs and Winfield, Godwin, others…..but i shouldve seen this more….all good, at least he’s ours, we got him 🙂

  16. MadMax Says:

    and we are his….lets get that right

  17. Bakerfan Says:

    Tap the brakes on any Barry Sanders comparisons. Only one of them

  18. Simeon4HOF Says:

    Bucky Buc show 2nite

  19. Fred McNeil Says:

    Barry Sanders? I listened to BUCS radio one day…about 30 years ago…to some unremembered Bucs defender trapping that guy behind the line of scrimmage and only managing to hold on to one of his shoes. Barry himself ran for an 80 yard TD with only one shoe. Bucky isn’t in that guys league. But he is a very good running back. I’m glad we have him.

  20. GoneGator Says:

    Time for our weekly feature comparing our rookie RB to HOF running backs – lol.

  21. Bucsfan Says:

    saw that play live and it was amazing. Barry did not let out his secret until later that he was a virgin which definitely kept his legs fresh.

  22. BakerFan Says:

    Bucsfan Says:
    January 12th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
    saw that play live and it was amazing. Barry did not let out his secret until later that he was a virgin which definitely kept his legs fresh

    That is what Mickey told Rocky…. layoff of it while training, keeps his legs fresh. LOL

    Barry Sanders was always having to make his moves in the backfield because his line stunk. Just imagine if he was able to make his moves when he was able to be beyond the line of scrimmage.

  23. dumboldguy Says:

    The only thing Bucky lacks is home run speed. His top line speed is probably average or below average for NFL running backs. Would it be nice if he had elite speed? Yes. Do I care much about it? No. It just means sometimes those 35 yard runs are not touch downs. But he is making so many more 8,10,15,20 yard runs where almost every other NFL back gets nothing it still makes Bucky elite.

  24. Zman Says:

    Bijan, he hasn’t done much. I see some LT with his vision and cuts.

  25. stpetebucsfan Says:

    I think stylistically Bucky reminds me of Sanders. And while Bucky is off to a mind blowing start we should remember it’s his first year.

    Barry Sanders is a Hall of Famer. Bijan and Bucky are still just two dudes with a ton of potential and a season of major success.

    Sanders is/was amazing. Ten straight seasons of 1000 yards uninterupted by an injury which held him to just 11 games, the rest of his career he only missed ONE game. He only had 16 to get er done but he not only reached 1000 EVERY year he topped 2000 one year and came very close another.

    Barry Sanders was truly a SPECIAL player!!

  26. Dr. Bucenstein Says:

    No he hasn’t got the Barry Sanders ability, or speed. Yes he is a smaller Emmitt Smith, but not as durable. So IMO he is part Warrick Dunn and part Doug Martin.
    He lacks Dun speed, but has his vision and agility, and he has Doug’s escapism after the 1st hit.

 

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