Martin Rucker (American football) facts for kids
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Rucker hugs a fan following the 2008 Cotton Bowl Classic
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| No. 83, 85, 86 | |||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | May 4, 1985 St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 238 lb (108 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Benton (St. Joseph) | ||||
| College: | Missouri | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 2008 / Round: 4 / Pick: 111 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
Martin T. Rucker II, born on May 4, 1985, is a former American football player. He played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was part of teams like the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. Before turning pro, he played college football for the Missouri Tigers. In 2007, he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country. The Cleveland Browns picked him in the 2008 NFL draft.
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Growing Up and High School Sports
Martin Rucker grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri. He went to Benton High School there. In high school, he was a talented athlete in many sports.
Football Achievements
During his high school football career, Martin caught 56 passes. He gained 646 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. He also played defense, making 118 tackles and 2 sacks.
Track and Field Success
As a senior, Martin was a star in track and field. He won championships in his conference and district. He placed fourth in the state for the triple jump. He also won the conference title in the long jump.
Basketball Skills
Martin also played basketball in high school. He earned honors for his skills in both his district and conference during his senior year.
College Football Career
Martin Rucker received a football scholarship to the University of Missouri. He played for the Missouri Tigers from 2004 to 2007. His coach was Gary Pinkel.
Freshman Year
As a freshman, Martin had a shoulder injury. This kept him out of some practice time. Still, he became a starter and played in 11 games. He caught 19 passes for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was named a second-team Freshman All-American.
Sophomore and Junior Years
In his sophomore year, Martin started all 12 games. He led the team with 47 catches and 567 receiving yards. As a junior, he started all 13 games. He had 53 catches for 511 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Senior Year and All-American Honors
During his senior year, Martin started all 12 games. He set a school record with 84 catches. He also gained 834 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. He was named a first-team All-American tight end. This means he was considered one of the best college players in the nation.
Martin finished his college career with amazing stats. He had 203 catches, 2,175 yards, and 18 touchdowns. His 203 catches were a school record. They were also the most ever by a tight end in the Big 12 Conference. He also set a school record by starting 50 games in a row.
Professional Football Journey
Martin Rucker was chosen by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He signed a contract with them in July 2008.
Cleveland Browns (2008–2009)
As a rookie, Martin played in 5 games. He caught 2 passes for 17 yards. Both catches helped his team get a first down. He left the team in September 2009.
Philadelphia Eagles (2009–2010)
In September 2009, Martin joined the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. In December, he was moved to the active roster, meaning he could play in games. He was released in August 2010 due to a hamstring injury.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked him up in August 2010. However, he was released the very next day after not passing a physical exam.
Dallas Cowboys (2010–2011)
In August 2010, Martin signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He was cut from the main team but then signed to their practice squad. In December, he was moved to the active roster again. He returned one kickoff for 16 yards in a game. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad in September 2011.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2011)
In October 2011, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Martin. They needed more players at the tight end position. This happened after another tight end was placed on the injured reserve list. This list is for players who are too injured to play.
Kansas City Chiefs (2012)
Martin signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in May 2012. Sadly, he suffered a torn ACL during training camp. An ACL injury is a serious knee injury. He was placed on injured reserve and did not play for the Chiefs. He was not re-signed after that season.
Retirement from Football
On August 6, 2014, Martin Rucker announced that he was retiring from professional football.
Career Statistics
| Career Offensive Statistics | ||||||||||||
| Year | G | GS | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Lg | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 | 9 | |||||
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| TOTAL | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 | 9 | |||||
Life After Football: Politics and Community
After his football career, Martin Rucker became involved in politics. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Martin T. Rucker, who was also a politician.
Running for Office
In February 2016, Martin ran for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives. He received many votes, but he did not win the election. Two years later, he ran for the state senate. He also lost that election.
Personal Life and Community Work
Martin Rucker is the younger brother of former NFL player Mike Rucker. Martin lives in his hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri. He is currently the president of the local school board. He continues to work towards his political goals and serve his community.
