Around Iredell Sports

2008 Jul-15

Rucker: Wake Forest is the best fit

West Iredell receiver Quan Rucker (left) battles a Winston-Salem Carver player for a passed ball during last season’s second-round game of the 3A state playoffs. Rucker has commited to Wake Forest University to play football for the Demon Deacons.

By Brian Meadows

He grew up a Demon Deacons fan, and now Winston-Salem is the next stop for Statesville’s Quan Rucker. The West Iredell High rising senior has given a verbal commitment to play football for Wake Forest University, beginning in 2009.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Wake Forest since I was real little,” Rucker said Tuesday seated on a picnic table at Garfield Pool, where he is a lifeguard. “When you know where you want to go and you have the opportunity to go there, then you go ahead and take it.”

The 6-foot, 180-pounder mulled offers from multiple Division I schools, including Atlantic Coast Conference rivals Clemson, North Carolina State and Virginia.

Big Ten upstart Illinois got the ball rolling in January, when the Illini became the first to offer Rucker, so his decision to attend Wake Forest ends seven months of speculation.

Ridding himself of that burden is a relief, Rucker said.

“It’s a lot off my shoulders,” he said. “That’s one less thing to worry about.”

Choosing Wake Forest created an ideal travel situation for family and friends who wish to continue watching him play after his high school career is over.

Locale wasn’t an overriding factor in his choice, though. Rucker said he would’ve happily gone to Champaign, Ill., had it felt right to him.

“I’m not a homesick kind of person,” he laughed.

“I just feel like Wake is where I fit in best. They have good academics, a good football program, and I just feel like they’ll take good care of me.”

Rucker has helped take good care of West Iredell. He finished second in the county in receiving yards (642) and tied for first in receptions (52) as the Warriors went 9-4 and reached the second round of the 3A state playoffs last season.

Wake Forest, which runs a similar spread offense, recruited Rucker to play receiver. West Ire-dell coach Mark Weycker believes it will be a good marriage with the Demon Deacons, who com-bined to win 20 games and an ACC championship under head coach Jim Grobe the last two seasons.

“They’ll use him as an inside receiver, which really plays to his strengths,” Weycker said.

Rucker lacks great height, but he makes up for it with his sure-handedness and relatively quick feet. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds last week. His fastest time in the 40 is 4.45.

The Warriors intend to utilize his skills behind center this fall, when Rucker replaces West Ire-dell graduate Jared Thompson at quarterback.

Rucker, who also plays defensive back, said he had no problem changing position his senior sea-son.

That comes as no surprise to his coach, who said Rucker would be someone defenses must ac-count for every down because of his ability to run and pass.

“Quan is a good athlete, who is not that me-centered person,” Weycker said. “He’s willing to do whatever is going to help his team be successful.”

Eventually, that team will be Wake Forest.

Rucker can’t sign a national letter of intent until February 2009. A verbal agreement isn’t binding, but being persuaded to change his mind and pick someone other than the Demon Deacons isn’t likely.

“I don’t think anybody could take their place,” he said matter-of-factly.

What would you expect a longtime fan to say?

Besides, Rucker almost has the Wake Forest fight song down pat.

“I don’t know all of it yet,” he said, grinning, “but if I’m with the crowd, I can sing it for you.”

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