Jeremy Ruckert is back.
Instead of electing to go pro and enter the 2021 NFL draft, the Buckeyes' versatile and athletic tight end announced on Twitter on Monday that he is returning to Ohio State for another season.
— Ruck (@Jeremy_Ruckert1) January 18, 2021
The former No. 2 tight end and No. 37 overall player in the country out of the 2018 recruiting class came to Columbus being hailed by Urban Meyer as “the best tight end prospect that I've ever seen and recruited.”
The 6-foot-5, 253-pounder, however, was not utilized much as a pass-catcher over the course of his first two seasons at Ohio State, finishing with 142 yards and four touchdowns on 14 catches while playing all 14 games as a sophomore. That included an incredible one-handed catch in the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin that showed off the skillset that made him one of the most heralded tight end signees in program history.
Ruckert turned into a standout all-around tight end by improving his blocking skills as Ohio State deployed more two tight-end sets in 2020, and he was used more in the passing game as a junior – including another spectacular one-handed grab in the national championship game against Alabama.
He finished with 13 catches for 151 yards and five touchdowns, including two scores in the Buckeyes' win over Penn State in October and two touchdowns against Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal, in eight games in 2020.
Ruckert was a lock to be selected in the NFL draft from April 29-May 1. But he will spend his fourth season as a Buckeye looking to improve his draft stock further as Ohio State could continue to increase its usage of the tight end under Ryan Day after already expanding the position in 2020.
Coming back for his senior season will also give Ruckert the opportunity to earn his degree from Ohio State, which he is on track to do this summer, he said in his announcement.
Ruckert brings back some much-needed experience to the Buckeyes' tight end room with the likely departures of Luke Farrell and Jake Hausmann. Ruckert will be the No. 1 tight end on a depth chart that will also include Cade Stover, Mitch Rossi, Joe Royer and incoming freshman Sam Hart.
