July 25, 2006
Columbia, Mo. -
University of Missouri tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman were named to the 2006 John Mackey Award watch list, as announced today by the Nassau County Sports Commission. The award is given annually to the best collegiate tight end in mid-December.
The Tiger standouts are among 30 tight ends mentioned on the list, and comprise only one of three duos from the same school among the group. Only Arizona State and Brigham Young have two tight ends mentioned on the list, as well.
Rucker, a junior from St. Joseph, Mo., led the Tigers with 47 catches for 567 yards and added one touchdown in 2005 as he earned 1st-Team All-Big 12 honors from the Kansas City Star, and honorable mention All-Big 12 status from league coaches. He closed the 2005 season with a bang, as he had an eight-catch, 102-yard, one-touchdown outing in the regular-season finale at Kansas State, then followed up with an inspiring five-catch, 83-yard outing in the Independence Bowl, helping MU overcome a 21-point deficit to post a 38-31 comeback win over South Carolina.
Coffman, a sophomore from Peculiar, Mo., tied Rucker for the team lead in catches in 2005, with 47, while adding 503 yards and four touchdowns. Playing as a true freshman, Coffman earned 1st-Team Freshman All-American honors in '05 for his efforts that saw him register more catches than any freshman at any position in the Big 12 Conference. He closed the season with a career-best eight catches for 99 yards and one touchdown in Mizzou's stirring comeback bowl victory over South Carolina, and had at least three catches in nine games.
Rucker and Coffman, as well as their Tiger teammates, hit the practice fields for the first practice of pre-season camp on Saturday, August 5th, as MU begins its preparations for its 2006 season opener on Sept. 2nd against Murray State. Season tickets, as well as individual game tickets, are available for purchase online at www.mutigers.com, or can be ordered over the phone by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Columbia).