Jeremy Ruckert NFL Draft Overview
Position: Tight End
Height: 6’5’’
Weight: 252 lbs.
College: Ohio State
Jeremy Ruckert 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Jeremy Ruckert was a standout, solid tight end at Ohio State. In the four years he played for the Buckeyes, Ruckert caught 54 passes for 615 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had a mostly productive career for the Buckeyes, despite having to play alongside tons of now-NFL stars like J.K. Dobbins and Terry McLaurin; he also had to compete with star receivers Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba this past season. Ruckert had a low target percentage (only about 10%) in his senior season, but made his limited opportunities count.
Seasons Overview
Ruckert was a four-star recruit out of Lindenhurst, New York. In high school, Ruckert gathered nearly 120 receptions for 1600 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was a highly-coveted tight end after graduating from Lindenhurst High School. He chose to go to Ohio State over several other colleges, including prestigious SEC and Big-10 schools like Alabama and Michigan.
In his freshman season at OSU in 2018, Ruckert appeared in only one game. He had one catch for 13 yards during the team’s 44-point beatdown of Oregon State. In his sophomore season, however, Ruckert made a much bigger impact for the Buckeyes. Appearing in nine games, Ruckert caught 13 passes for 136 yards and four touchdowns. His biggest game came from the team’s early win against Florida Atlantic, where he caught four passes for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Ruckert also had several ‘boost’ plays in 2019, catching three passes for 23+ yards.
In OSU’s shortened 2020 season, Ruckert tallied 13 receptions for 151 yards and five touchdowns in just five games. He had two multi-touchdown games, which came at great times for the team. Ruckert’s two scores helped propel the Buckeyes over their rivals, the Penn State Nittany Lions, in a ranked showdown. Ruckert’s best game of his junior season could not have come at a better time; he had three catches for 55 yards and two of the Buckeyes’ touchdowns in their beatdown of Clemson in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.
Ruckert’s senior season was his most productive one yet. He brought in a career-high 26 passes for 309 yards in 2021. His best game came from the Buckeyes’ big win over the Indiana Hoosiers. Ruckert had five catches for 47 yards, and two of his three touchdowns in this game. Overall, Ruckert is a solid pass-catching option who was simply underused in a crowded receiving room at OSU.
Outlook
Ruckert has exceptional skills as a receiver but also possesses many other qualities that successful NFL tight ends have. He is a well-rounded player, with great hands, blocking, and athleticism, despite his larger frame.
Strengths:
- Solid receiving hands
- Exceptional athleticism despite larger stature
- Great possession receiver
- Can make great/big plays
- Very physical, uses strength to fight for extra yards
- Good run blocker
- Great teammate, accepts his role despite low target share
Weaknesses:
- Smaller workload, unproven at higher levels
- Below-average speed
- Not exceptionally elusive, not much creativity after the catch
NFL Comparison: Pat Freiermuth
Teams With Need at Tight End: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants
Projection: Late Round Pick (6th or 7th Rd.)
The Bottom Line on Jeremy Ruckert
Ruckert is a solid tight end who had an underrated career at Ohio State. He has great pass-catching ability but brings much more to the team than just his hands. His larger frame and stature give him extra strength and physicality when it comes to fighting for extra yards or first downs. He also has proven himself to be an effective run-blocker and pass-blocker against many of the country’s best defenses. Ruckert brings many more great characteristics and traits to the field, and the NFL team that drafts him will be grateful.
Ruckert will likely be one of the first tight ends taken in the draft, if not the first. The class is rather weak and shallow than the classes in years past. Still, Ruckert will have an astounding impact on the team that drafts him. He projects to be a starter on a team next year, or a solid backup option for a team that already has their guy at the position.
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