22 Facts About Mike Rucker

Michael Dean Rucker was born on February 28,1975 and is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.

Mike Rucker played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and was selected by the Panthers in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft.

Mike Rucker played both sides of the ball in high school including catching 15 passes for 300 yards as a tight end.

Mike Rucker went unbeaten in 10 meets during his senior season.

Mike Rucker lettered 10 times in high school, including three each in football and basketball and four in track.

Mike Rucker was a two-time all-state lineman, and made the All-America team his senior year.

Mike Rucker earned three letters on the Benton High School basketball team.

Mike Rucker attended the University of Nebraska, where he played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.

Mike Rucker redshirted as a true freshman, and then collected his first sack the following season.

Mike Rucker was a member of the national champion Cornhuskers team in 1995 and 1997.

Mike Rucker finished his college days as Nebraska's fourth all-time tackler behind the line of scrimmage, with 40 stops.

Mike Rucker was drafted by Carolina in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft.

Mike Rucker collected three sacks his rookie year, playing in all 16 games.

Mike Rucker registered 2.5 sacks in his second season, and became a starter for the 2001 NFL season.

Mike Rucker ended the season leading the team with 9 sacks.

Mike Rucker was the NFL Defensive Player of the Month for September 2003, when he had 5 sacks, 21 tackles, 13 hurries and one batted pass during the first four games of the 2003 NFL season.

Mike Rucker finished the season with 12 sacks, and earned his first berth in the Pro Bowl.

On December 17,2006, in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Rucker suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee, causing him to miss the remainder of the 2006 season.

Mike Rucker returned for his final season in 2007, before announcing his retirement from the game on April 22,2008.

In 2005 Mike Rucker founded Vision Group Realty, a full service real estate brokerage firm, providing brokerage services to both buyers and sellers of residential and commercial real estate.

Mike Rucker made a video documentary of his experiences for NFL Network, stating that if he was not a pro football athlete, he could easily envision himself in the military.

Mike Rucker is a commentator on preseason games for the Carolina Panthers on the Panthers Television Network.