Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert grew up as a diehard Jets fan in Long Island. He made countless trips to the Meadowlands to watch his beloved Gang Green play, but not everyone in his hometown of Lindenhurst was leaving New York to watch football on Sundays.
The Jets and Giants are New York teams in name only — a fact Ruckert acknowledged at the NFL combine on Wednesday. Neither has played in the Big Apple since the 1970s. The Bills, meanwhile, have resided in Orchard Park since 1960.
“A lot of my friends back home are Bills fans,” Ruckert said, per Spectrum News Buffalo’s Jon Scott. “I’m from Long Island, so a little bit south of that. It’s a pretty good trip away. It’s the only team in New York, so a lot of people back home have a sense of pride in that.”
Geography aside, Ruckert wouldn’t mind returning to the tri-state area to start the next chapter of his football career. He currently projects as a day two draft pick, which puts him right in the Jets’ sweet spot if they don’t address the tight end position in free agency.
Ruckert has met with the Jets and Giants already. He also worked with Gang Green’s coaching staff at the Senior Bowl, which allowed the two sides to get acquainted.
Ruckert didn’t receive a ton of targets during his college career while playing in the shadow of a loaded Ohio State wide receiver room, but he is still one of the better tight ends in this year’s draft. The belief is he will be a better pro than college player given his versatility. Only time will tell, but the Jets and Giants would be wise to bring the local product home if the fit is there.
“The people back home would go crazy,” Ruckert said, per Newsday. “They would love it. But at the end of the day, I’m excited no matter where I go.”
