Rucker ready for one more go-around in senior season
- Staff
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
WHEELERSBURG — Sometimes they gang up on him, but Braylon Rucker still likes to play.
Oh, that’s not about football. It’s about what Rucker likes to do at home when he plays with his dogs.
“I’ve got two labs. They’re a handful. Yeah, yeah. We like to play. They gang up on me,” said Rucker.
Fortunately for Rucker, his Wheelersburg Pirates teammates try to keep opponents from ganging up on him. As a dual pass and run threat, Rucker can get hit from all directions. But he has no problem with being an RPO type quarterback.
“I just trust myself and I trust my teammates and trust that I’m going to get the ball out and if I get knocked down I’ll get up and I’ll be fine,” said Rucker.
The 6-foot, 180-pound senior played as a freshman but has been the starting quarterback the past three seasons. He is looking forward to his senior year.
“It’s pretty exciting. It’s my last year. I get to play with my friends one more year,” said Rucker.
Getting to play in a varsity game the past three years have helped Rucker develop more each season.
“I saw in the past years a lot of growth. I think I’ve got to the point where everything is coming to me easier as a senior. I’m seeing the game better,” said Rucker.
Having played quarterback his entire career dating back to youth league, Rucker has developed a love for all aspects of being a quarterback.
“I think throwing the deep ball is pretty fun, but I enjoy running the ball, too,” said Rucker.
Although Rucker has always been a quarterback, this season the coaching staff has Rucker playing some defensive back.
“It’ pretty enlightening to see the game from a defensive perspective, what’s open and what the open areas are on the field, see the different coverages. It’s helpful for sure on offense,” said Rucker.
There is another facet that comes with being a quarterback, especially this season as a senior.
“I just need to be more vocal, teaching the younger guys what they need to do, getting them in the right places. That’s the big change in being a senior now. It’s getting everyone in tune with the offense and running it efficiently,” said Rucker.
The Pirates’ quarterback has some basic goals for his team and for himself as he enters the new season. Wheelersburg was 9-5 last year, won the Southern Ohio Conference and reached the Division 5 regional finals.
“I think we just want to win as many games as possible, have a deep tournament run and get further than last year. I think that’s a big goal for us,” said Rucker.
“Individually, I just want to take care of the ball and help my team have as much success as possible.”
Besides football, Rucker has been a three-year starter at guard for the basketball team and earned all-district honors. He wouldn’t mind continuing playing a sport in college whether it’s football or basketball.
“It’s hard to decide,” said Rucker, who has had some talk about playing football for the University of Pikeville.
“I’m open to it with football for sure, but I’ve got basketball in mind as well. I’ve had thoughts about playing college basketball as well. I like both of them. I like basketball a little bit more, but I like both of them.”
And by likes them both, he means football and basketball although it could mean his two labs. Either way, Braylon Rucker plans to have fun.
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