Photo by Dayne Francis | The Signal
Growing up having a father who plays in the NFL is probably one of the best things that a kid could ask for – at least that is what many may assume. But what outsiders are unaware of is, that while it is presumably considered a blessing to have a close family member to play football at the highest level, situations can definitely take a turn for the worst. In this case, a broken family was one that Keith Rucker Jr. had to learn to deal with. Although his childhood was considered to be “a little rough” at times, due to his parents separating, he has certainly taken it all in stride, not allowing the circumstance to affect his choices in life, thanks to mom and dad.
“Don’t make the mistakes I made…and if you do make mistakes, I’ll be here to pick you up,” said Rucker, in response to what was one of the most encouraging things his parents told him growing up.
Keith Rucker Jr. was born February 17, 1995 and is the son Keith Rucker Sr. and Mary Galli. Rucker has five siblings, one older sister, who played basketball at a collegiate level and four younger brothers who look up to him dearly. He is a senior at Georgia State, majoring in speech.
He was born in Arizona and lived there with his mother until the age of 8. He then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio with his father, after his parents decided to go their separate ways. Rucker was at ease while speaking about his move to Ohio, albeit it was a tough time for him because of the strong relationship he shared with his mother, and he had to adjust to a lifestyle of not being able to see her as often as he would have liked. With a smile on his face, he considered himself to be a “momma’s boy” at that time, which made the moving process that much more difficult to cope with.
Moving from one state to another at an early age is a challenge in itself, especially when it’s your mother you’re leaving behind. However, Rucker had no idea he was about to be introduced to a game that would change his life for the better.
“I think everything worked out for the best because I wasn’t playing football before I moved with my dad, and he kind of showed me the ropes and taught me the game,” he said. “Ever since then, it’s been the love of my life.”
This indeed would be the start of a new journey for Rucker.
College is where many memories are created. For Rucker, his freshman year has been his most memorable. “My best memory would have to be my freshman summer, just coming in and working with those guys,” Rucker said. “My freshman camp was definitely one of my greatest moments here.” As a whole, joining the football program and establishing a brotherhood amongst his teammates played a huge part in why his freshman summer has been his best memory to this point.
With Rucker entering his senior year, he has definitely been an accomplished player on and off the field. He has contributed to the Panthers’ football team and continues to be a positive influence on his younger teammates, as he serves on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as the Sun Belt Conference representative. He also serves as president of the Georgia State University SAAC for 2016-17. If these credentials aren’t impressive enough, he has also been named to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy. This award is given to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Rucker was also nominated for the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®.
The decision to be an extraordinary student-athlete comes from within. One has to have the same desire to be great off the gridiron as well as between the lines. Rucker has shown that he is capable of incorporating the important deeds his mother and father taught him at a young age, into his life now. He didn’t necessarily understand why they were teaching him those acts at the time, but it seems to make a lot more sense now that he’s an adult.
“There are a lot of life skills that your parents teach you, and you don’t understand it or get it. Then you get onto the football field – a lot of people think that it is just talk when people say it, but you learn a lot of life lessons about being discipline and doing the right things, and going all out and giving all of your effort towards something,” he said.
As he continues to grow, he has really noticed how life and football are really one of the same. “It’s the same life, but there’s two different sides of it, and they all merge back into one road sooner or later,” he said.
However, the game of football has had a substantial impact on his life.
Rucker has had an impressive career at Georgia State and is coming off of a standout junior season. He is tied for fifth in Georgia State history with eight touchdown receptions. He also ranks among the Georgia State career leaders with 58 receptions (seventh) for 786 yards (sixth). He has produced a career average of 13.6 yards per catch. Last season, he finished third on the team in receptions (39) for 522 yards and second with six touchdown catches, despite missing three games due to injury. It was a shoulder injury that kept him on the sidelines for three games. But Rucker remains optimistic about the previous injury, as well as being undersized at the tight end position.
“In the off-season, I try to use the weight room as a way to get my body as close to a prototypical tight end as I can,” said Rucker. “Paying close attention to those injuries that I did have and just do my best to make sure they don’t occur again.”
He is healthy, determined and ready for his last ride.
