Hard Knocks put rookie running back Jeremy McNichols in the spotlight. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' preseason finale on Thursday night gave McNichols the stage he needed.
The Buccaneers drafted McNichols in the fifth round this past April, which wouldn't normally put a young player under intense scrutiny. But with starting running back Doug Martin suspended for Tampa Bay's first three games of the regular season and McNichols sharing a similar scouting report to his fellow Boise State product, expectations for the rookie ran high. As has been chronicled in great detail by the cameras for HBO's Hard Knocks reality show, McNichols has had some tough moments adjusting to the pro game, in terms of both learning the playbook and figuring out the speed of the game.