Father of NFL draft prospect hints he thinks New York Jets should draft his son
On Saturday morning, the Twitter account of the Reese’s Senior Bowl shared a graphic that revealed the tight end prospects who will be working with the National team, which will be coached by the New York Jets’ coaching staff.
🚨TIGHT ENDS🚨 Roster of TEs for the National team coached by the @nyjets – @jqfergy11 @charliekolar_ @mcbtrey @Jeremy_Ruckert1 @KingCole_Turner #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/szoNlUGgCG
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 15, 2022
One of the most popular replies to the tweet came from Bill Ruckert, the father of none other than Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert, who is one of the prospects that will be working with the Jets’ coaching staff at the Senior Bowl.
“J-E-T-S -JETS JETS JETS,” replied Ruckert, also including a photo of what appears to be his son with a Jets logo painted on his face.
J-E-T-S -JETS JETS JETS pic.twitter.com/aOKtHuUAU2
— Bill Ruckert (@BeerShot21) January 15, 2022
It’s no surprise that the Ruckerts are Jets fans. Jeremy attended Lindenhurst Senior High School in Lindenhurst, N.Y., situated in the southwestern corner of Suffolk County on Long Island.
This photo – captured from Jeremy’s Instagram story in April 2021 – features what appears to be the hood of a car with a giant Jets logo (the classic, hunter green oval) painted on it.
Bill has been all over Twitter looking to push the Jets to draft his son, sharing the image of a young Jeremy wherever he can find a link between the Ohio State product and the Jets.
NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic tweeted that he loves Jeremy’s fit with the Jets, and Bill was there in the replies yet again.
— Bill Ruckert (@BeerShot21) January 15, 2022
In his senior year at Lindenhurst Senior High School, Jeremy was named the New York Gatorade Football Player of the Year after recording 61 receptions, 1,094 receiving yards, 13 receiving touchdowns, 61 tackles, 13 sacks, and two interceptions.
Recruiting website 247Sports ranked Jeremy as the nation’s No. 1 tight end recruit in the 2018 class. He placed four spots ahead of Florida recruit and future Atlanta Falcons first-round pick Kyle Pitts.
Jeremy committed to Ohio State, where he was able to get onto the field as a true freshman. He finished his Buckeyes career with 54 receptions for 615 yards and 12 touchdowns, recording 26 catches for 309 yards and three touchdowns over 11 games in his 2021 senior season.
Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy labeled Ruckert as an “Aggressive Y who was underused in the passing game at OSU”.
One-liners for @nyjets fans:
✈️ Ferguson- Nifty, & sure-handed Y/F
✈️ Kolar- Dependable & savvy Y is generous RZ target
✈️ McBride- Playmaking F/Y is immediate NFL starter
✈️ Ruckert- Aggressive Y was underused in pass game at OSU
✈️ Turner- WR turned F is top seam threat https://t.co/ufpy7F8hei
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) January 15, 2022
It’s a description that makes a lot of sense. Ruckert was targeted just 2.8 times per game over the last three years (71 times in 28 games) even though he produced an efficient average of 8.5 yards per target and turned a whopping 12 of his 53 receptions (22.6%) into touchdowns.
Ruckert also has great hands, dropping just two of 56 catchable passes in his career (3.6%).
Most analysts peg Jeremy to go in the third or fourth round of the draft. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder is ranked as the consensus No. 78 overall prospect at the website NFL Mock Draft Database.
The Jets badly need tight ends who can keep the drops down, and they currently own the 69th overall pick at the top of the third round, so who knows? Perhaps the Long Island kid will be coming home.
Play: 👉 the Jet X Offseason Simulator
Complete TE, third round pick, Jets could draft two TE’s, FA addition.Lawrence Cager coming back and trying TE. Jets have opportunity in the TE room.