Tony Jaye Tucker Jr. facts for kids
Tucker DE #90 playing for Pitt
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| Position: | Defensive end |
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| Personal information | |
| Born: | February 18, 1989 Maryland, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | St. John's College HS (Washington, D.C.) |
| College: | Pittsburgh |
| NFL Draft: | 2011 / Round: |
| Career history | |
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Tony J. Tucker Jr., also known as TJ, is a former American football player. He played as a defensive end, a position where players try to stop the opposing team's offense. TJ was known for being very "quick off the ball," meaning he was fast at the start of each play.
Contents
TJ's Early Football Journey
Tony (TJ) Tucker Jr. has loved football his whole life. From a very young age, he dreamed of playing in the NFL. He even charted his goals on a poster board!
Starting Young in Maryland
TJ began playing football at just six years old. He played for youth teams like the Falcons of Hyattsville and the Bowie Bulldogs in Maryland. Because he was so big for his age, he often played with older kids.
High School Football Star
While at St. John's College High School, Tony was a key player for two years. He played both defensive end and tight end. He worked very hard to achieve the goals he had set on his poster board.
Under Coach Joe Patterson, Tony became one of the most sought-after players in the Washington, D.C. area. He was chosen for the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) All-League team. He also earned a spot on the Washington Post All-Metropolitan First Team. Tony received the highest football award at St. John's College High School, called the Mush Dobofsky Award.
Top Recruit in High School
Experts saw Tony as a top player. Rivals.com rated him as a four-star recruit. He was the third-best player in Washington, D.C., and the 11th-best weak-side defensive end in the country. Scout.com ranked him as the 24th-best defensive end nationwide. In 2007, Super Prep magazine rated him the eighth-best player. He was also named to the George Michael Golden 11.
In 2007, over 35 college teams wanted Tony to play for them. These included big schools like Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Ohio, and North Carolina. After high school, Tony played in the 2007 East-West All-American Game.
College Career at Pitt
Tony Tucker, a highly talented defensive end, announced he would play for Pitt on January 6 at an all-star game. A famous Pitt defensive end, Hugh Green, was even an assistant coach for the East team at that game.
Starting at Pitt
In 2007, Tony was one of the most recruited players from the Washington D.C. area. He earned PrepStar College Recruiting All-America honors. Coach Dave Wannstedt decided Tony would "red-shirt" his first year at Pitt. This meant he practiced with the team but did not play in games, allowing him to develop more.
The next year, Tony slowly started playing more in games with his teammate Jabaal Sheard. Tony helped his team win important games by making key plays.
Speedy defensive end who will be a significant member of Pitt's defensive line rotation... lettered last year in a reserve role...very effective with his hands and could emerge as one of the Panthers' top pass rushers
Key Plays and Challenges
In 2008, Coach Wannstedt played Tucker in every game as a top backup defensive end. Tony made four tackles, one sack, and forced one fumble that year. He was especially noted for helping Pitt win against Iowa. He made a two-yard sack and then forced a fumble on the next play. His teammate Greg Romeus recovered the ball with only 50 seconds left, securing the win. Tony was named to the 2008 Big East All-Freshmen team.
In 2009, Tony faced a difficult decision. He had to leave his respected Pitt team because his mother was in a car accident. Tony felt he had no choice but to leave the University of Pittsburgh to help care for her.
After leaving Pitt, Tony tried to attend the University of Maryland. This was at his father's request. However, he could not meet all the academic requirements and was not allowed to play football there. Tony then attended Prairie View A&M University.
After College Football
In 2011, the 2011 NFL lockout affected Tony's chance to enter the NFL. During the draft process, teams like the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and Philadelphia Eagles were interested in him. But the NFL lockout stopped things.
Tony soon received an offer to play indoor football. He played for the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and later the Cedar Rapids Titans. He also continued his education, studying criminal justice at Kirkwood Community College.
Professional Football and Beyond
Tony continued to pursue his football dreams after college.
- 2012: Played for the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (IFL).
- 2012: Traded to the Cedar Rapids Titans (IFL).
- 2013: Participated in the International Prograss Scout Bowl.
- 2014: Tony moved back to his hometown of Bowie, MD.
- 2015: Tony played with a local semi-pro team, the Washington Warriors. He remained determined to reach the NFL. To stay in shape, he trained intensely with Future Fitness.
One area that came alive against Reading was the defense, which recorded a safety on the game’s opening play and forced four turnovers, capped off by a 23-yard fumble return for a score by defensive lineman Tony Tucker in the final 30 seconds
Tony has only been with the team a couple of weeks, so it was great to see him make a big play like that. That win was all about the defense.
- 2016: Tony was drafted to the Rivals Professional Football League.
- 2017: He played with a semi-pro team in the District of Columbia. He continued his daily intensive training and conditioning.
- November 2017: Tony attended the PrimeTime Sports Management Conference & Trade Show, a networking event.
- March 2018: Tony attended tryouts for the Canadian Professional Football League.
- September 2019: Tony played semi-pro with the Washington Warriors in Washington, D.C. He continued his pursuit of the NFL, training hard with his certified professional football trainer.
