Looking for a spark in the running game, the Bucs turned to undrafted rookie free agent RB LeGarrette Blount. Blount answered, providing an immediate impact, and finished as the League’s leader in rushing for rookie running backs while being nominated for Rookie of the Week four times.
He finished tied for second in touchdowns (6), first in rushing yards (1,007), second in yards/carry (5.0) and first in yards/game (77.5) among rookie running backs. He also had the second, third, and fourth longest rushes (53, 48, 48) of any rookie last year.
Blount’s season also ranked as one of the best ever by an undrafted rookie running back since the 1970 merger. He is just the second undrafted back to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in their rookie year.
According to STATS, Inc., Blount also led the League in broken tackles last year, despite having nearly 100 less rushing attempts than the next closest back.
Over the final five weeks of the regular season, Blount led the NFL in rushing with 511 yards on 87 carries (5.9 avg.) including two touchdowns, earning him NFL Rookie of the Month honors. He also tied for the lead League in most runs of 10+ yards with 14. Blount became just the fourth Buccaneer player ever to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month Award and the first since RB Carnell Williams won the award twice during the 2005 season.
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