Mike Rucker facts for kids
Rucker with the Carolina Panthers in 2007
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| No. 93 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | February 28, 1975 St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 275 lb (125 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Benton (St. Joseph) | ||||||||||
| College: | Nebraska | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1999 / Round: 2 / Pick: 38 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Michael Dean Rucker (born February 28, 1975) is a former professional football player from the United States. He played as a defensive end for nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers. This team is part of the National Football League (NFL). Mike Rucker played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Panthers chose him in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft.
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Early Life and Sports
Mike Rucker was a talented athlete in high school. He played both offense and defense in football. As a tight end, he caught 15 passes for 300 yards. On defense, he was the team's top tackler with 168 stops. His efforts helped Benton High School achieve a great record.
Besides football, Rucker was also a star in track & field. He was a state champion in the shot put in 1994. He won all 10 of his meets during his senior year. He also played three years on the Benton High School basketball team. He was recognized as an All-America lineman in his senior year.
College Football Career
Mike Rucker went to the University of Nebraska. He played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. He took a "redshirt" year as a freshman. This means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. This allowed him to gain experience and keep an extra year of eligibility.
He got his first sack in his second season. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He was part of the national champion Cornhuskers teams in 1995 and 1997. As a senior in 1998, he was named second-team All-Big 12 despite an injury. He finished his college career as one of Nebraska's top tacklers.
Professional Football Career
The Carolina Panthers picked Mike Rucker in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft. He played in all 16 games during his first year. He recorded three sacks as a rookie. His first sack was against Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake.
In his second season, he had 2.5 sacks. He became a starter for the 2001 NFL season. That year, he led his team with 9 sacks. In September 2003, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Month. He had 5 sacks and 21 tackles in the first four games of the 2003 NFL season. He and fellow defensive end Julius Peppers both had 10 sacks that season.
The next year, Rucker won Defensive Player of the Month again for September. This made him one of only 11 players in history to win the award for the same month in two years in a row. He finished the 2004 season with 12 sacks. This earned him his first trip to the Pro Bowl, which is an all-star game for the NFL's best players.
On December 17, 2006, Mike Rucker got a serious injury. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during a game. This injury made him miss the rest of the 2006 season. He returned for his final season in 2007. He announced his retirement from football on April 22, 2008.
Other Activities and Interests
After his football career, Mike Rucker became involved in several projects. He is a co-founder of Ruckus House. This is a special facility for child development and learning. His goal is to open a Ruckus House in every city that has an NFL team.
In 2005, Mike also started Vision Group Realty. This company helps people buy and sell homes and businesses. It is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In 2008, he visited troops in Afghanistan. He traveled with other NFL players and a sports writer. Rucker even made a video about his experiences for NFL Network. He said he could easily see himself in the military if he hadn't been a football player. Today, Mike Rucker also works as a commentator for the Carolina Panthers' preseason games on TV.
Family Life
Mike Rucker has a younger brother named Martin. Martin also played football professionally. The Cleveland Browns drafted him in the 2008 NFL draft.
