| 2006: Finished 2nd among all Big 12 TEs in receptions (53), TDs (5) and
yards (511) ... Named 1st-Team All-Big 12 by league coaches ... Named the
National Tight End of the Week by the Mackey Committee for his 6-catch, 66-yard,
1-TD outing in MU's 28-13 win over Colorado ... Yardage total against CU pushed
him over the 1,000 mark for his career, making him only the 4th TE in MU history
to reach that milestone ... Closed the regular season with his best performance
of the year, notching season-high totals in receptions (7) and yardage (91)
against Kansas.
2005: Had a breakout year, leading the Tigers with 47 receptions for 567
yards and a team-best 12.1 yards per reception ... His receptions were tied for
the most of any tight end in the Big 12 Conference and his yardage total was 2nd
in the league ... Caught a pass in every game, and had at least 2 catches in
11-of-12 contests ... Closed the regular season with a career performance that
earned him the John Mackey Tight End of the Week national award for his 8-catch,
102-yard, 1-TD game at Kansas State ... Had a career-long 48-yard catch-and-run
in that game, and made an eye-popping catch for a 16-yard TD in the 1st quarter,
as he wrestled the ball away from a KSU defender to claim the game's opening
score ... Won the team's receiver of the year award at the annual team banquet
... Had a career-best 9 catches at Colorado, going for 88 yards ... His season
totals in catches and yardage both ranked 2nd on the MU single-season tight ends
list ... Also played on various special teams squads, and recorded 3 tackles in
that role.
2004: Earned the team's freshman of the year award following the season
... Had 19 catches on the year for 263 yards and 4 TDs ... His TD total was
2nd-best on the squad, and his yardage was 4th-best and gave him a solid average
per catch of 13.8 yards ... Worked hard in the weight room and added 20 pounds
to his playing weight of 220 from the previous year ... Missed the majority of
spring practice due to a shoulder injury he suffered during a practice, but had
corrective surgery and was full go by the fall.
2003: Redshirt season ... Earned scout team MVP honors for his work
in practice leading up to the Colorado game.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a 1st-team all-state tight end who earned 1st-team
all-district and all-conference honors at both tight end and defensive end ...
Had 23 catches for 207 yards receiving with 2 TDs as a senior and turned in 64 tackles and 7 quarterback sacks on the defensive side of the ball... An all-district and all-conference performer in basketball, also placed 12th in the state in the triple jump and won the conference title in the long jump.
PERSONAL: Son of Martin & LaVell Rucker ... Father is member of
the House of Representatives in the state of Missouri ... Younger brother of
former Nebraska All-American Mike Rucker who stars with the NFL's Carolina
Panthers ... Majoring in hotel and restaurant management at MU. |
