Jeremy Ruckert TE Ohio St: Scouting Report

Height: 6’6’’

Weight: 251

Overall

Jeremy Ruckert is a Y/H hybrid tight end in Ohio State’s pro style offense. In his 4 college seasons, he played in 45 games, starting 16 of them. He lined up primarily on the line and in the slot. He was very productive as a receiver this past season and also made an impact as a run blocker.

Pass Game

Ruckert has a good release off the line of scrimmage and shows some suddenness in his route running. He does a good job of creating separation from his man in his routes and he has a good blend of size, speed, and strength to be a match-up nightmare in the NFL. He has very good hands and can make difficult catches down the field. He has the strength to make contested catches against tight coverage and can box-out his man to create separation at the catch point. After the catch, he has the strength to break tackles and he has sufficient speed, but he is not a natural playmaker. He will make big plays down the field but he is not an elite run after the catch receiver which limits his ceiling, but he can still be a reliable weapon in the pass game.

Run Game

In the run game, he has excellent size and strength to block both defensive linemen and linebacker. At times, he makes big holes for the ball-carrier and dominates his man but other times, he gets too top heavy and gets pushed aside. He needs to improve his balance when blocking to stay square with his man and avoid going to the ground. Although he has some traits to improve, he has the physical tools and experience to be a strong blocker in the NFL and be a true 3-down player.

Last Word

Ruckert has the receiving talent and blocking ability to be a true Y/H hybrid tight end at the next level. He can play on all 3 downs and with his ability to create separation and make contested catches, he can be a very reliable 3rd down receiver. His size and athleticism will allow him to excel on special teams as well.

One-Liner: Jeremy Ruckert is a weapon in the pass game and has the blocking abilities to be an immediate 3-down player to begin his career.

Grade: 6.7 (Solid Starter on All 3 Downs)

Games Watched: 2021 – Rutgers, Indiana, Penn State

Team Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos