Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers RB Rachaad White sets lofty goal for himself

By Max Steele | Last updated 7/24/23

Rachaad White is set on accomplishing something no Buccaneers running back has done in nearly a decade: a 1,000-yard rushing season.

"The Bucs haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher in a long time," White said on "The Rich Eisen Show." "I plan on being that 1,000-yard rusher this year."

Backing up Leonard Fournette in 2022, White posted 481 rushing yards and 290 receiving yards in his rookie season. In 2022, Tampa Bay rushed for a league-worst 1,308 yards and five touchdowns.

With Fournette gone, the 24-year-old plans to take a huge leap in year two. He expects "at least" 1,450 rushing yards and 700 receiving yards. First-year Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales is eager to get the ball in White's hands.

HYPE: “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 a three-down back."

- Bucs OC Dave Canales on RB Rachaad Whitepic.twitter.com/ZyrBCCDew5
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) July 23, 2023

In the offseason, White brushed up on his Buccaneers' history, studying Pro Bowl RBs Doug Martin, Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott.

Martin was the last Buccaneer to rush for 1,000 yards, posting 1,402 in 2015. Dunn had 1,000-yard seasons in 1998 and 2000 for Tampa Bay. Alstott never reached the milestone but is the franchise leader in rushing touchdowns (58) and second in rushing yards (5,088, behind James Wilder's 5,957). He was inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor in 2015.

White believes he has what it takes to make a similar impact in Tampa Bay.

"I want to be on that list when it's all said and done," White said.

The Arizona State product will have every opportunity to help turn around a team that averaged a measly 76.9 rushing yards last season. With no real threat to his starting role, White should have a heavy workload in an offense that must establish the ground game.

He'll also benefit from an improved offensive line with the return of first-team All-Pro Tristan Wirfs, a fully healthy Ryan Jensen and first-round pick Cody Mauch.

Canales and new RBs coach Skip Peete are confident in White and also expect a breakout season. Canales, Seattle's QBs coach last season, witnessed White go off for 105 yards on 22 carries against his Seahawks in Germany.

"He was aggressive. The violence that he played with [made] you go, 'Wow, this guy could be special.' He's got some great skillset that really fits into our system," Canales said during his introductory news conference, according to Bucs Report.

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