After sobering winter, Bucs’ Nick Leverett enjoys breakout summer

TAMPA — His pursuit of one of the Bucs’ precious few roster spots recently extended beyond the customary toil. Nick Leverett had fully engaged in the scratching and clawing and sweating and bleeding.

But on Saturday, he had to resort to snapping. In a game. For the first time in his life.

“Was I nervous? Yeah,” the 2020 practice squad regular said Tuesday with a chuckle. “I was definitely nervous, but at the end of the day I wasn’t anxious. I was anticipating the game, I was ready for it.”

The center-quarterback exchange wasn’t among the assorted offensive shortcomings in the Bucs’ 34-3 loss to the Titans. Leverett, 24, delivered all 63 offensive snaps — to three different quarterbacks — with no glaring flaws. In the process, he hit for the cycle of sorts.

Counting his five college seasons (including a sparkling grad-transfer season at Rice in 2019), Leverett has played all three offensive line positions — guard, tackle, center — in a game at the college or pro level.

“It’s a great thing to be that position-flexible, especially if you want to dress on Sunday,” Bucs coach Bruce Arians said. “Nick has shown us that.”

To this point, Leverett has dressed only on Saturdays. Entering the Bucs’ preseason finale this weekend in Houston, he finds himself perched on the roster bubble. Conventional wisdom suggests the 310-pound North Carolina native already has earned one of the final 53 spots, based on the versatility he has brandished during this training camp.

“He’s taking off all over,” said Bucs right guard Aaron Stinnie, who did a launch of his own with a sparkling playoff performance last winter after starter Alex Cappa broke his ankle in the wild-card round.

“His techniques have gotten way better, his knowledge of the playbook has gotten better. He’s a great guy, and I know that he’s been working his tail off since he’s been here.”

Nonetheless, a few more solid reps in a live game wouldn’t hurt Leverett’s cause. Securing a roster spot Saturday in Houston, where he allowed only two sacks in 320 pass attempts as Rice’s left guard in 2019, would represent a full-circle flourish.

“It definitely means a lot,” said Leverett, who spent his first four college seasons at North Carolina Central.

“Every game I’m out there trying to put my best foot forward, put great stuff on film. And then I’m going to Houston, I’m going to my old stomping grounds; I got my master’s (degree) out there at Rice. ... I’m definitely trying to put my mark on this team and put my best foot forward for that game.”

He got that figurative foot in the NFL door in 2020, a bittersweet inauguration capped by sorrow and sobering reality.

The Bucs signed Leverett as an undrafted rookie that May, and he spent most of the next nine months on the practice squad, primarily playing tackle.

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He was still on the squad Dec. 20, the day the Bucs rallied from a woeful start for a 31-27 victory in Atlanta. That same day, about 150 miles to the southeast, Leverett’s beloved grandfather, Billy Leverett, passed away in Augusta, Ga.

A father of four and grandfather of 11, Billy Leverett had been battling cancer. “My best fishing buddy,” Leverett said. “That’s all we used to do, we used to go out there and fish.”

Less than six weeks later, on Jan. 27, Leverett was released from the practice squad. Cappa’s injury had created depth concerns heading into the Feb. 7 Super Bowl, prompting the Bucs to re-sign Earl Watford, a veteran with NFL game experience.

“At the end of the season last year, it was heartbreaking for me,” said Leverett, who didn’t begrudge the Bucs for the 11th-hour roster move.

“I lost my grandfather, I got cut from the team right before the Super Bowl, so I mean, it was a lot. That definitely helped me focus in on what I needed to do, and I set my goals and priorities straight right then and there.

“I took my diet to another level. I took my workout schedule and everything to a different level. That helped motivate me to come out this year and be the best player I can possibly be and basically just put my best foot forward.”

The sweat, the sacrifice, and yes, even the snapping appear destined to yield a substantial reward. NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 by Tuesday. Versatility will be valued as Arians and his staff pare down their player list.

“One thing about Nick is, he is a tremendous effort player, very smart player,” Arians said. “If you can play five positions, you’ve got a great chance to dress on Sundays.”

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.

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