Buccaneers 1st round draft pick LB Devin White continues to show he “gets it” when it comes to embracing not only the team, but its history.
Rookie LB Devin White says he didn’t need to talk to Mike Alstott to know that the number 40 should stay with the former Buccaneer great. Totally understands Alstott’s place in franchise history and honors that. White went 45 instead.
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) May 10, 2019
White was selected 5th overall by the Buccaneers in this year’s draft. Shortly thereafter he told the story of his deceased brother J.J. See the story HERE.
Almost has the feel of destiny doesn’t it?
Once the buzz of the NFL Draft started to fizzle out, the next question on people’s minds was, “What jersey number would White wear”? As White’s college number was “40”, and everybody knows the number 40 was made famous by Buccaneers legend FB Mike Alsott. So how would White handle this? Would he simply reach out to Alstott for permission to use it?
When asked about this White responded with,
“For all that he did for this place, him winning the Super Bowl, him really being a running back and not a fullback, him toting the rock like he did, he had his own legacy here, and I’m not a person who wants to step in the way of somebody else’s legacy,” White went on to say,
“Even though 40 means the world to me, at the end of the day it’s not the number that’s going to make me go out and make tackles, sacks and big plays,” White added. “It’s about me who’s going to do that.”
White ended up selecting the number 45.
Devin White gets it, he understands the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and is aware of those that came before him and the legacy they set. This is further proven by him sitting down with another Buccaneers legend, none-other than Derrick Brooks. Oh to be a fly on the wall in that room.
