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Jeremy Ruckert 'staying positive,' working back from injury at NFL Combine

Austin-Wardby:Austin Ward•03/02/22•

AWardSports

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Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert will be limited at the NFL Combine. (Austin Ward/Lettermen Row)

INDIANAPOLIS — Jeremy Ruckert can’t do everything yet.

But the Ohio State tight end has no intention of wasting his trip to the NFL Combine, so he’s still going to do whatever he can.

Obviously that will include some medical examinations to give teams a chance to see that his foot his healing after suffering a plantar fasciitis injury at the Senior Bowl. Ruckert also has a full slate of meetings lined up with organizations looking to pick his brain about his potential fit at the next level. And while he’s not going to be able to run or catch passes, Ruckert has decided to participate in the bench press anyway just to put something physical on display before his Pro Day at Ohio State later this month.

“I’m kind of bummed out that I’m not running,” Ruckert said on Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium. “I wish I could have ran for everybody. It’s kind of what’s the big question for me. But I’m going to be benching, because I didn’t want to come here and do nothing.

“So I’ll be just doing the bench, talking to teams and doing this [media] stuff and just try and get the most out of it. I’m going to stay positive throughout the whole process, get a good grasp of these interviews and just try and kill those.”

Jeremy Ruckert has already started that process, and he arrived with a head start thanks to his experience dealing with pro teams at the Senior Bowl in January.

Obviously that experience didn’t end the way he wanted after picking up his foot injury after what had been widely viewed as a productive week of practice for one of the top tight ends available in this draft class. But he’s on schedule to be a full participant in time for the annual Pro Day circus at Ohio State on March 23.

“It wasn’t really anything major,” Ruckert said. “I just couldn’t really do a little bit for a couple weeks, and I really didn’t want to come out here and not be prepared or hurt it a little bit worse. So, it’s nothing serious. Just trying to get ready for Pro Day.

“… I just want teams to know I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. Whatever it takes for the team, no matter what the job is at tight end, I’m going to do it. I’m not going to just try and check the box — I’m going to get after people and and do the job the right way. Whatever kind of job is needed at tight end, I’m gonna be able to do it.”

Right now, Jeremy Ruckert might not be able to do it all physically quite yet.

But the former Ohio State standout is still sending a message that he’ll do whatever he can.

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