1. Lavonte David played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, twice earning All-American honors, and was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.
58 Facts About Lavonte David
1. 2.
Lavonte David originally signed with Middle Tennessee State, but then decided to attend Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas.
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Lavonte David led Fort Scott to the NJCAA National Football Championship, while ranking among the conference's leaders in tackles and tackles for loss.
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Lavonte David was a two-time first-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection and a Region VI All-American in 2009.
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Lavonte David was the defensive most valuable player of the 2009 national championship game against Cam Newton-led Blinn.
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Lavonte David racked up 12 tackles, including sacking Newton on the game's final defensive play, before Fort Scott lost on a punt return for a touchdown.
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Lavonte David led Nebraska in tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries in 2011.
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Lavonte David was the winner of the inaugural Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, awarded to the best linebacker in the Big Ten.
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Lavonte David started all 27 games he played in at Nebraska, recording 285 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.
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Lavonte David entered the 2012 NFL draft and attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Lavonte David completed all of the combine and positional drills.
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Lavonte David was projected to be a second or third round pick by Sports Illustrated and NFL draft experts.
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Lavonte David was the ninth linebacker drafted in 2012 and became the highest drafted linebacker from Nebraska since Barrett Ruud in 2005, who was drafted by the Buccaneers.
14.
Lavonte David intercepted a pass by Dolphins' quarterback Matt Moore in the second quarter.
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Head coach Greg Schiano named Lavonte David the starting weakside linebacker to begin the regular season, alongside Quincy Black and starting middle linebacker Mason Foster.
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Lavonte David immediately performed well and displayed great play recognition and instincts.
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Lavonte David intercepted a pass by Broncos' quarterback Peyton Manning, that was originally intended for tight end Jacob Tamme, and returned it for a 27-yard gain in the third quarter.
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Lavonte David started all 16 games at weakside linebacker in 2012 and led the Buccaneers with 139 combined tackles, while making five pass deflections, two sacks, and an interception.
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Lavonte David finished with 20 tackles-for-loss, which was the most by a rookie since Kendrell Bell in 2001.
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Lavonte David remained the starting weakside linebacker in 2013, alongside middle linebacker Mason Foster and Dekoda Watson.
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Lavonte David received a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness, giving the New York Jets the necessary distance for Nick Folk to make a 48-yard game-winning field goal.
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Lavonte David later explained after the game that he thought Smith was going to stay in bounds before he delivered the blow.
23.
On September 12,2013, Lavonte David was fined $7,875 for his late hit on Smith.
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Lavonte David earned the safety after he tackled running back Daniel Thomas in the endzone for a one-yard loss in the second quarter.
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Lavonte David received National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 12 performance against the Lions.
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Lavonte David started all 16 games in 2013 and recorded 145 combined tackles, ten pass deflections, a career-high seven sacks, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a safety.
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January 3,2014, Lavonte David was named 2013 First-team All-Pro.
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Lavonte David was ranked 35th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.
29.
Lavonte David was listed as inactive for the next two games due to his hamstring injury, which ended his 42-game streak of consecutive starts.
30.
On December 23,2014, it was announced that Lavonte David was selected as an alternate to the 2015 Pro Bowl.
31.
Lavonte David finished the 2014 season with 146 combined tackles, a four pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and a sack in 14 games and 14 starts.
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Lavonte David was ranked 56th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.
33.
Lavonte David intercepted a screen pass by quarterback Mark Sanchez, that was originally intended for running back Darren Sproles, and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
34.
On December 23,2015, it was announced that Lavonte David was selected as an alternate for the 2016 Pro Bowl.
35.
Lavonte David finished the season with a career-high 147 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, three interceptions, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown in 16 games and 16 starts.
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Lavonte David had the third most tackles among all players in 2015, behind only NaVorro Bowman and D'Qwell Jackson.
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Lavonte David was ranked 53rd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.
38.
Lavonte David intercepted a pass by Chargers' quarterback Philip Rivers, that was initially intended for wide receiver Tyrell Williams, and returned it for a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
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Lavonte David started all 16 games in 2016 and recorded a career-low 87 combined tackles, five sacks, four passes defensed, four forced fumbles, one interception, and a touchdown.
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Lavonte David struggled in his first year under defensive coordinator Mike Smith's new scheme and received an overall grade of 77.6 from Pro Football Focus in 2016.
41.
Lavonte David was inactive for the Buccaneers' Week 15 loss to the Atlanta Falcons due to a hamstring injury.
42.
Lavonte David finished the 2017 season with 101 combined tackles, five forced fumbles, and a pass deflection in 13 games and 13 starts.
43.
Lavonte David finished the season with 120 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two pass deflections in 14 games started.
44.
Lavonte David finished the season with 122 combined tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, seven pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games started.
45.
Lavonte David was ranked 100th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.
46.
On October 1,2020, Lavonte David was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for his performance in September.
47.
On March 12,2021, Lavonte David signed a two-year, $25 million contract extension with the Buccaneers with $20 million guaranteed.
48.
Lavonte David suffered a foot injury in Week 15 and was placed on injured reserve on December 23,2021.
49.
Lavonte David was activated on January 15,2022, in time for the Wild Card Round against the Eagles.
50.
Lavonte David finished the 2022 season with three sacks, 124 total tackles, five passes defended, and one forced fumble.
51.
On March 23,2023, Lavonte David re-signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year, $7 million contract.
52.
Lavonte David was ranked 99th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.
53.
On March 12,2024, Lavonte David re-signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year contract worth up to $10 million.
54.
Lavonte David started all 17 games, recording a team-leading 122 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six passes defensed, and three forced fumbles.
55.
On March 7,2025, Lavonte David re-signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year deal.
56.
In December 2012, Lavonte David led students through football drills and promoted the importance of health and fitness for the opening of BUCS CARE School Fitness Zones at two local Elementary schools.
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In June 2012, Lavonte David visited MacDill Air Force Base in Downtown Tampa to tour a hurricane aircraft, witness a military dog training session, and thank civilian workers and active duty military for their service.
58.
In 2020, Lavonte David was chosen as the Buccaneers' nominee for the 2020 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.