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. He was even named an All-American in 2007. The Cleveland Browns picked him in the 2008 NFL Draft.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Martin Rucker grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri. He went to Benton High School. During his high school football career, he caught 56 passes for 646 yards. He also scored 5 touchdowns. On defense, he made 118 tackles and 2 sacks.
Rucker was also a talented track and field athlete. In his senior year, he won conference and district titles. He placed fourth in the state for the triple jump. He also won the conference championship in the long jump.
Besides football and track, he played basketball. As a senior, he earned All-district and All-conference honors.
College Football Career
Rucker received a football scholarship to the University of Missouri. He played for the Missouri Tigers from 2004 to 2007. As a freshman, he was a "redshirt" player, meaning he practiced but didn't play in games that year. This allowed him to gain experience.
Even after a shoulder injury, he became a starter. In his first year playing, he caught 19 passes for 263 yards. He also scored 4 touchdowns. He was recognized as a top freshman player.
In his second year, he started every game. He led the team with 47 catches for 567 yards. As a junior, he continued to be a key player. He made 53 catches for 511 yards and 5 touchdowns.
His senior year was outstanding. He set a school record with 84 catches. He gained 834 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. Because of his amazing performance, he was named a first-team All-American tight end.
Rucker finished his college career with impressive numbers. He had 203 catches, which was a school record. This was also the most catches ever by a tight end in the Big 12 Conference. He gained 2,175 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He also set a school record by starting 50 games in a row.
Professional Football Journey
Joining the NFL
The Cleveland Browns picked Martin Rucker in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He signed a contract with them in July 2008. As a rookie, he played in 5 games. He caught 2 passes for 17 yards, both leading to first downs. He left the Browns in September 2009.
Time with Other Teams
After the Browns, Rucker joined the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. A practice squad is where players train with the team but aren't on the main roster. He was later moved to the active roster. He left the Eagles in August 2010 due to a hamstring injury.
He briefly joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but was released quickly. In August 2010, Rucker signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He was initially on their practice squad. He was later promoted to the main team in December. He played one game for the Cowboys, returning a kickoff. He stayed with the Cowboys until October 2011.
Next, Rucker signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He joined them to help the team after another tight end was injured.
Kansas City Chiefs and Retirement
In May 2012, Rucker signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he suffered a serious knee injury (a torn ACL) during training camp. This injury kept him from playing. He was not re-signed by the Chiefs after that season.
On August 6, 2014, Martin Rucker officially announced his retirement from professional football.
Life After Football: Politics and Community
After his football career, Martin Rucker became involved in politics. In February 2016, he ran for the Missouri House of Representatives. Even though he received many votes, he did not win the election. Two years later, he ran for the state senate but also lost.
Martin Rucker is the younger brother of former NFL player Mike Rucker. His father, Martin T. Rucker, was also a politician. Today, Martin Rucker lives in his hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri. He is the president of the local school board. He continues to work towards his political goals, following in his father's footsteps.
