New York Jets ink former Ohio State star tight end Jeremy Ruckert to rookie deal
Jeremy Ruckert always bled green and white, but now it means a little bit more. A lifelong fan of the Jets, the former Ohio State star has inked his rookie deal with the franchise he grew up rooting for.
On Monday, New York took to Twitter to announce the move was official.
Moreover, the Jets selected Ruckert as the No. 101 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He became the latest member of the 2021 Buckeye offense to get drafted by the Jets, joining star wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Now, the duo will be hoping to find the same success in the NFL that they did together in college.
Continuing, Ruckert had a big year in 2021 for Ohio State, hauling in 26 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
“I think the culture, like Coach Saleh said, I think that the little time that I’ve been around you could tell the culture is spreading very well,” Ruckert said at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center after the draft, via the team’s website. “I felt it as soon as I was there for just a couple days I was there, I felt it. I got juiced up and I’m just so excited.”
Out of high school, Jeremy Ruckert was a four-star recruit and the No. 2 tight end recruit in the nation from the Class of 2018, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Jeremy Ruckert
Although Jeremy Ruckert might not be a starting tight end right away in the NFL, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said he has some upside and could wind up being a starter some day. However, he needs some work to get there, notably when it comes to running routes on passing plays.
“Muscular move tight end on the collegiate level who should be able to find a home as an in-line worker,” Zierlein wrote. “Ruckert should test well creating a favorable height-weight-speed profile that could push him up draft boards. He blocks with good aggression, but can be a little inconsistent at the point of attack for now.
“He’s not as explosive in his route-running as his testing might indicate but will catch what is thrown his way even though he might never be much of a volume target. He has TE2 potential and could become an average NFL starter.”