North Carolina

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Kaimon Rucker is known for his stylish wardrobe off the field. But it's something simple – a bracelet on his left wrist that says "Keep choppin'" – that he wants to best known for. The bracelet, made by teammate Jahvaree Ritzie, has a special meaning to Rucker. It’s something his father used to say to him repeatedly as a kid, becoming something of a personal mantra, Rucker said. “Life is full of ups and downs and you never know what you’ll get hit with,” Rucker said. “Regardless of what it is, whether it’s good, bad or ugly, you’ve got to keep choppin’. It reminds me of the resiliency that I have had to have throughout my life.” Rucker was named second-team All-ACC in 2023 after finishing with 61 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for losses and 12 quarterback hurries. Starting all 13 games, he was a handful at the “Jack” position, which he likens to a hybrid of linebacker and defensive end, using explosiveness to rush the passer and crash the pocket.

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Hart County

Georgia

Kaimon Rucker

Edge

Week 9's college football slate brought no shortage of highlight reel plays and big-time performances from across the country over the weekend.

Kirk Herbstreit

On3 Football

Kirk Herbstreit ranks top players of college football Week 9

For the third straight season, North Carolina has started off the year 2-0, defeating Charlotte 38-20 in their home opener this weekend following

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Kaimon Rucker injury update: Mack Brown shares the latest on UNC EDGE, others

North Carolina EDGE Kaimon Rucker has been ruled out for Saturday's game against Charlotte, the program announced. He is undergoing a procedure on

Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina Tar Heels edge rusher

Kaimon Rucker injury update: UNC EDGE out after undergoing lower-body procedure

The 2024 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list was revealed Tuesday, via the Football Writers Association of American.  The FWAA selected 75 defensive

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Nagurski Trophy announces 2024 preseason watchlist

Former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins became the third new defensive coordinator at North Carolina this offseason since Mack Brown's return to

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North Carolina Tar Heels Football

Kaimon Rucker reveals the biggest differences between new DC Geoff Collins, Gene Chizik

A new era is about to begin for the ACC with three new members – Cal, Stanford and SMU – joining next week. There's also a slew of new faces on the

Phil Steele's 2024 Preseason All-ACC Team

Phil Steele names Preseason All-ACC Team ahead of 2024 college football season

Athlon Sports released its 2024 preseason All-American teams ahead of the upcoming campaign.  All three teams in all three position groups were

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2024 Preseason All-Americans: Athlon releases team predictions

College football analyst Phil Steele released his 2024 Preseason All-American Team in the latest edition of his magazine.  It’s a good look at the

Phil Steele All American team 2024 preseason

2024 Phil Steele College Football Preseason All-American Team

College football season is getting closer, and there are officially 100 days left until the 2024 campaign gets underway. To celebrate, On3's Clark

Top 100 Players in College Football for the 2024 season

Top 100 Players in College Football for the 2024 Season

Former Temple and Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins was hired as the new defensive coordinator for North Carolina on January 5 after spending one

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Geoff Collins shares how quickly he started building relationships with North Carolina players

After a weeks hiatus, the On3 Top 25 edge rusher rankings are back going into Week 12. And there's been some notable movement in the ranking.  Three

EDGE Top 25 Rankings Week 12

Top 25 Edge rankings entering Week 12 of college football

It's time for Week 10 of the college football season and another round of the Top 25 edge rusher rankings. And the list held mostly steady.  Only one

EDGE rankings

Top 25 Edge rankings entering Week 10 of college football

Like most positional rankings at this point in the season — entering Week 9 — the On3 Top 25 edge rushers is getting less and less

Laiatu Latu, Dallas Turner, Solomon Byrd, Jared Verse

Top 25 Edge rankings entering Week 9 of college football

The On3 Top 25 edge rankings got a once over after an exceedingly enthralling Week 7 slate. And the Top 10 and overall list got a bit of a shake up

James Pearce, Jared Verse, Dallas Turner, Kaimon Rucker

Top 25 EDGE rankings entering Week 8 of college football

At the halfway point of the 2023 season, some clarity is coming around the best players in the country at various positions. And edge rusher is no

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Top 25 EDGE rankings entering Week 7 of college football

North Carolina pass-rusher Kaimon Rucker has certainly made a name for himself this season, though perhaps it's his nickname that will draw even more

Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker

Kaimon Rucker reveals origin of 'The Butcher' nickname

North Carolina pass-rusher Kaimon Rucker is a bit unconventional as a player, shorter than most edge rushers but equally impactful. Some of the

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

Few players in college football history will have dealt with as much change as North Carolina edge rusher Kaimon Rucker by the time he finishes his

Kaimon Rucker shares how he handles changing landscape of college football

The latest On3 edge rusher Top 25 rankings have come ahead of the Week 6 slate. And with the season hitting the approximate halfway point, the group

Dallas Turner Jared Verse Solomon Byrd James Pearce

Top 25 EDGE rankings entering Week 6 of college football

Week 4 saw some big shifts in the On3 Top 25 edge rusher rankings. All told, five players re-emerged or made a debut in the Top 25 ahead of Week 5.

Jared Verse Kaimon Rucker Chris Braswell Solomon Byrd

Top 25 EDGE rankings entering Week 5 of college football

Another week of college football looms and conference play is picking up. And the On3 Top 25 EDGE rankings have shaken up going in to Week 4.

Laiatu Latu, Mykel Williams, Jared Verse, and Chris Braswell

Top 25 EDGE rankings entering Week 4 of college football

The top edge defenders in college football have gotten off to some varied starts, setting up an interesting On3 Top 25 EDGE ranking. The top names,

ared Verse, James Pearce, and Dallas Turner

Top 25 EDGE rankings entering Week 3 of college football

One of the most exciting facets of a new football season is watching new, unexpected players emerge as difference-makers. But North Carolina head

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Mack Brown lists North Carolina players that will see increased playing time in 2023

ATLANTA – North Carolina rising senior defensive end/outside linebacker Kaimon Rucker said at the 2023 INFLCR NIL Summit that he hadn't heard the

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On3 NIL

Athletes' visions for the future: 'A lot of us just want to be recognized'

ATLANTA – Within the locker room of one of college football's blue-blood programs, players have discussed what their individual name, image and