It’s been a great run this season for the Missouri Tigers and you couldn’t be happier for anyone more than senior All-American tight end Martin Rucker. He came back for his senior year to be apart of something special. He’ll be in the NFL next year, but he led this Missouri offense, not only with his play on the field, but his leadership off.
He also gracious, and is always willing to talk. As the Tigers were preparing for Arkansas at the indoor facility in Columbia in mid-December I was huddled with other reporters around Chase Daniel after a practice and I noticed Rucker laying down on a tackling dummy taking a break, so I went up to him and asked if I could speak with him. As he stood up to answer questions, I told him to lay back down and relax, I can take a seat next to him. He laughed and said he’s never done an interview laying down, but he was funny, and very honest with his answers. From talking with him, he told me that starting this week he’s going to begin interviewing agents as he prepares for the NFL draft. He also made it clear, he was hurt by being looked over the BCS. He wondered how the Tigers could have beaten two BCS schools (Illinois and KU) and been overlooked themselves?
After the Tigers beat Arkansas, when most players retreated to the locker room, there was Rucker standing with the fans, signing autographs and giving high fives. I wanted to talk to Rucker one more time after his college career. Click on the link to hear that interview. I love his response to a new chant Tiger should start!
Download/listen to Martin Rucker (mp3)
