2024 NFL Draft Prospects - Running Backs

2024 NFL Draft Prospect: Bucky Irving

Photo by Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Bucky Irving

Position: RB — Projected: 4th Round

History & Measurables

Born: Aug. 19, 2002 – Chicago, IL

High School: Hillcrest High School

College: Oregon

Height – 5’9″ Weight – 192 lbs

Traits & Characteristics

The Good

Patient in Setting Up Blocks
Vision for Cut Backs
Good Contact Balance
Gets Straight Up Field

The Bad

Can Get Pushed Back at Line
Takes Big Hits
Not Elite Speed

Advanced Analytics Notes

2023 Rushing

3.99Yards After Contact/Attempt (18th Among FBS RBs, min. 100 rush attempts)
39.4% of total rushing yards came on runs of 15+ yards (T-62nd Among RBs)
69 Missed Tackles Forced (T-10th Among RBs)
34 Runs of 10+ Yards (T-22nd Among RBs)
38% of carries in zone scheme, 62% of carries in gap scheme

2023 Receiving

87.3% Route Participation (5th Among FBS RBs, min. 10 targets)
1.20 Yards per Route Run (T-74th Among RBs)
9.6 YAC/REC (T-80th Among RBs)
74.9 PFF Receiving Grade (T-20th Among RBs)
23.6 PFF Pass Blocking Grade (560th Among RBs)

Film Notes and Highlights

Bucky Irving is an interesting running back because despite his size he is not a speed back. Irving likes to run between the tackles and is very tough for his size. He does not dance in the backfield but goes straight up field and is very elusive in short spaces to avoid defenders. I saw multiple examples of him using hesitation to set up defenders to make great cut back runs. He is able to take on contact between the tackles and stay on his feet for extra yards.

In the receiving game, Bucky Irving was lethal on angle routes out of the backfield because of his quickness. If he does get caught in the backfield he is not able to break from contact and has limitations in short yardage. He is more shifty than fast so there is a limit on big gains at the next level but could consistently get chunks of 10-20 yards. – Brandon Haye

(Games Watched: vs Washington 2023, vs Colorado 2023, vs Utah 2023, vs USC 2023)

Player Comparison

James Robinson

Three Best Fits

Dallas Cowboys

Los Angeles Rams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Erika Brown

Erika Brown is a fantasy football writer for The League Winners. A journalism graduate from Oklahoma State University, she enjoys watching OkState football games and writing about college football.

Erika Brown

Erika Brown is a fantasy football writer for The League Winners. A journalism graduate from Oklahoma State University, she enjoys watching OkState football games and writing about college football.