Kaimon Rucker talks Dwight Freeney, James Harrison comparisons based on height

North Carolina pass-rusher Kaimon Rucker is a bit unconventional as a player, shorter than most edge rushers but equally impactful. Some of the comparisons he’s drawn alone indicate how influential a figure he’s been for the Tar Heels.

Rucker shared two player comparisons he has gotten on the Andy Staples On3 show.

“I have heard Dwight Freeney, I have heard it before,” Rucker said. “I know Clyde Christensen, one of the coaches that we have on staff, he does call me Dwight Jr. every now and then. He knows a little bit. With him working with Tom Brady for a long period of time, he definitely knows a thing or two about Dwight Freeney.

“But yeah I’ve gotten that little Freeney comparison, I’ve gotten the James Harrison comparison for sure. Then of course there’s some other guys that I’ve also had like play styles as well. But James Harrison and Freeney I have heard.”

The major reason for the Freeney comparison? Height. Rucker checks in at only 6 foot 1.

But that hasn’t hampered his production at all. If anything, constant doubts about Rucker’s height have only fueled his progression as a player, thanks to some encouraging motivation from his parents.

“My parents have always told me to control the controllables, which I feel like I’ve done a great job of. But my height is something that I truly can’t control, so something at that area of my life, because of me not being highly recruited, it was because of something that I can’t control physically, it was very dehumanizing in a way.

“It was just like, I felt like I was worth more than what guys are putting their eyes on. Like I know I don’t pass the eye test in terms of being the tallest guy, but it was something I had to work through for sure. But I know for me my parents kept me motivated. I kept myself motivated, I kept on pushing.”

The North Carolina standout has certainly proven the doubters wrong over the years. He’s logged 112 career tackles, 23.0 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a pass defended.

He’s done it all despite the doubts. Or perhaps, in part, because of them.

“That really just lit a fire underneath me to make me go harder each and every game that I had, each and every practice, because it got to the point where I was sick of people saying that I was too short for a certain position,” Kaimon Rucker said. “I didn’t want to move because that would mean I would prove other people right. So I stayed at this position. I wanted to develop and just show people why just because I’m short at the position doesn’t mean I can’t play it.”

He’s certainly done that.

Already this season for North Carolina Rucker has racked up 23 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 4.0 sacks and five quarterback hurries. Not bad for a guy many deemed too short to make an impact as an edge rusher.