Oct. 6, 2006

Columbia, Mo. -

University of Missouri junior tight end Martin Rucker has been named the John Mackey Tight End of the Week by the Nassau County Sports Commission, as announced this week. 

 

Rucker was tabbed for the award after he caught a team-high six passes for 66 yards and one touchdown in last Saturday's 28-13 win over Colorado that pushed Mizzou to 5-0 for the first time since the 1981 season.  Rucker caught a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chase Daniel with just 11 seconds remaining in the first half, which was a key play as the Tigers extended their lead to 21-6 at the time.

 

Rucker's yardage against CU put him over 1,000 yards for his career, and he is now only the fourth tight end in MU history to reach 1,000 yards for his career.  With 90 career receptions for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns, Rucker needs 12 catches and 101 yards to break the MU tight end career records of 101 catches and 1,290 yards - both held by former standout Andy Gibler (1979-82).

 

A pre-season candidate for the Mackey Award, which goes annually to the nation's best tight end, Rucker is currently tied for the team lead in receptions in 2006, with 24, and his 212 yards is second-best on the squad - with both totals leading all Big 12 tight ends.  Rucker won the same national weekly award in 2005, when he caught eight passes for 102 yards and one touchdown at Kansas State.

 

The 2006 recipient of the Mackey Award will be announced mid-December and presented at the annual awards dinner on April 30, 2007.  Both Rucker and fellow teammate Chase Coffman were on the pre-season watch list for the award.