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TE Jeremy Ruckert (New York Jets)

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In his first season, Ruckert had his hand in the dirt for the first time and learned the basics. He never did that in high school. Last season, Ruckert began to put everything he knows and learned together to become a weapon for the Buckeyes. He threw blocks that led to touchdowns in the run game, caught passes out of a three-point stance and split out wide. He never did that in high school.

With another offseason of training and learning, could Ruckert be due for a true breakout season for the Buckeyes? He has the potential to be dominant. He certainly did that in high school. And he can do it for Ohio State, too.

“I knew if I came here, I wouldn’t be able to get on the field if I didn’t learn how to pass protect and run block,” Ruckert said. “I think learning how to do those two things the last couple years has been crucial in developing me as a player.

“In the NFL, the biggest play they always convert on is the tight end over the middle,” he said. “I could see that being more of a play that they call down the road. We’ve been working at it. Seeing it in the NFL, [George] Kittle really, and it’s the play [Rob Gronkowski] used to make his money on was just over the middle running, being big over the middle and possessing the ball.”
 
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No matter what his individual numbers look like this season, Jeremy Ruckert is going to have a decision to make.

Truthfully, it’s probably a safer bet not to expect the junior tight end to have a huge statistical season given the way Ohio State uses its tight ends. But for a player with the next-level potential Ruckert brings to the position, that likely won’t matter much when he weighs his options.

If Ruckert shows another year of technical development as a blocker as expected during his junior campaign with the Buckeyes, he’s already physically matured into the kind of NFL-type body that will make him a coveted draft target when his natural ball skills are added to the equation. It’s not a secret to scouts and general managers that the Buckeyes know how to build pro-ready players, and there’s also an impressive track record of their tight ends having productive careers no matter what their reception total was in college.

There are already folks in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center making contingency plans in case Ruckert leaves, which was always a very real possibility since top-ranked recruits at any position rarely are expected to stick around for four years.

“I knew if I came here, I wouldn’t be able to get on the field if I didn’t learn how to pass protect and run block,” Ruckert said last season. “I think learning how to do those two things the last couple years has been crucial in developing me as a player.
 
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Cmon eights
Click to expand...

images


8D
 
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JEREMY RUCKERT, TIGHT END


  • “My goal is just to do whatever I can to help this team win a national championship, and beat Nebraska right now.”
  • Ruckert said he has gotten stronger physically, and he hopes that will show up in his blocking.
  • Ruckert said everyone was heartbroken when they got the news in August that they wouldn't get to play this fall, but since they've gotten the green light to play this season, there's been a lot of energy throughout the team.
  • Ruckert said Ohio State players have talked about the possibility of a future coaching matchup between Ryan Day and Jeff Hafley, and what that matchup would be like, because they're both so good at what they do.
  • On Sermon: “He's not outspoken, he just does everything right, and he's very promising out there.”
  • On building a squat rack with his dad when he was back in New York this offseason, Ruckert said that was good not only so he'd have equipment to work with, but also because it was a great bonding experience with his father and brothers.
 
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With a plethora of young weapons set to catch Justin Fields’ passes on the outside, Ohio State may benefit from its experience at the tight end position.

In a position group with four upperclassmen, Jeremy Ruckert is the lone junior and accounted for 56 percent of catches from the 2019 tight end group. Hauling in 142 yards and four touchdowns his sophomore season, the New York native has prepared through an unusual offseason to take the next step in his maturation.

“I just want to keep improving as an all-around tight end,” Ruckert said Sept. 25 in a Zoom call. “Feel like I’ve gotten a lot stronger this offseason, so hopefully that will be put on display this year in my blocking and everything like that, and I really just want to step it up in all three aspects.”
 
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