Corey Rucker continuing to get back into game shape

Corey Rucker hadn’t played a football game in 301 days before jogging onto the field Saturday at South Carolina.

After not going through spring practice and being sidelined the first three weeks with a foot sprain, he finally got his shot. 

With the game already in hand late in the fourth quarter, Luke Doty dropped back to pass on third-and-long, finding Rucker deep down the field for a 52-yard touchdown reception. 

The touchdown reception was Rucker’s first target, catch and score of the 2022 season. 

“I’m running up the sideline, I kind of look back and I see Luke, and his hands are empty. So I’m like, ‘Where’s the ball?’,” Rucker said. 

Special: Get a year of Gamecock Central for $10!

“I saw, just a slight slimmer, like a black dot, come across one of the lights and I was like, ‘Oh shoot, it’s coming to me.’ And after I got it on my hands like I kind of double caught it and I had to look at it for a second. Like, I got the ball. It was just a lot of emotion.”

While he was overcome with excitement and emotion, Rucker said his favorite part was seeing his teammates run up to him and congratulate him. Specifically fellow wide receiver, Juice Wells. 

“I was really excited,” Rucker said. “I’d say probably the best part about that was when I turned around, seeing Juice Wells almost get a penalty for coming off the sideline with his helmet off coming to celebrate with me. So that was probably the best part of all of that.”

The celebration on the sideline was a testament to who Rucker is as a person and the work that he’s put in to overcome his injury, Shane Beamer said.

“Ruck’s a fantastic young man, you saw that with the way that our players were excited for him the other night when he scored that touchdown and celebrated with him,” Beamer said. “People I think love his spirit and his energy because of– I know it’s been frustrating for him…he just never got down, he just kept working and always had a smile on his face.”

Receive breaking news and in-depth analysis via email

Rucker followed up his touchdown with his “rockstar” celebration, one he said he’s been planning to implement for a while but hasn’t gotten the opportunity to use yet. 

“I’ve been telling myself like I’m gonna do that celebration for a long time. But every time you score your mind just goes everywhere,” Rucker said. “Right after I scored, and I jumped over Juice and I kind of sat there I was like, ‘oh, gotta do the rockstar celebration’.”

The touchdown and celebration are certainly deserved for a player who came to South Carolina from Arkansas State via the transfer portal with high expectations. 

Last year Rucker was the Red Wolves leading receiver and fifth in the Sun Belt Conference with 826 yards and nine touchdowns.

Gamecock fans got to see a glimpse of what could be once Rucker gets fully back into game shape, something he said he’s still working on.

Click here to follow the Gamecock Central YouTube page!

With a shortened week of game-prep due to Hurricane Ian, Rucker said he’s not worried about the injury implications, but rather the shortened amount of practice time. 

“I’d say probably the only thing that kind of worries me is that there’s not a lot of time to get more practice reps to try to get more in shape and get a feel for things,” Rucker said. “But overall, I feel like I’m pretty okay with it. As far as shape wise.”

Rucker added that he was limited last week in practice so he didn’t get as many reps in.

As for what his role is moving forward, Rucker will likely have to work to get back into game shape before he finds himself carving out a spot in the starting rotation of receivers. But that doesn’t mean Beamer won’t be able to find a way to utilize him in the field. 

“I think he’s just another guy that brings a dimension to the passing game and you can’t have enough of those guys as well,” Beamer said. “To be able to add another guy that can help from an offensive standpoint, help from a special team standpoint, continue to bring big-play ability to the offense, you can’t have enough of.”

Rucker will likely have the opportunity to get some extended playing time on Thursday against S.C. State, but regardless he doesn’t seem too stressed about his role at the moment.

“Honestly just go out there play and have fun, just play full speed,” Rucker said. “I feel like if you play hard and just play fast, you’ll end up in a right spot, and good things will happen.”

Discuss Corey Rucker and South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!