Jack Tucker Making The Most Of Opportunity – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 6, 2002
by Adam Widman
Golden opportunities do not come along often. Senior fullback Jack Tucker is making the most of his opportunity to play fullback for the Buckeyes.
The depth at fullback is thin. A hamstring injury has sidelined freshman Brandon Schnittker for a few days and sophomore Branden Joe will not join the team until after the Texas Tech game (Aug. 24).
“This is a good opportunity for me to show the coaches what I can do,” Tucker said. “Given the situation we are in at fullback, I just want to take full advantage.”
The fullback position is nothing new to Tucker, though he hasn’t played there in a while. Not since high school has Tucker played fullback on a regular basis. He is a member of the special teams at OSU after playing linebacker for two years at Cerritos Junior College in Norwalk Calif. A clavicle injury sidelined him in 2000 during fall camp while competing for a linebacker spot with the Buckeyes.
“I feel if I work hard that I could possibly be the guy at fullback going into the Texas Tech game,” Tucker said. “Obviously there is a lot of work I have to do until then. So far I think I’m doing a good job handling my assignments. I just want to do what the coaches ask me to do.”
Tucker’s hard work has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff or his teammates. They critique Tucker on what he is doing right and wrong and what he needs to work on.
“He is doing a good job,” red shirt freshman running back Ja Ja Riley said. “He’s learning and getting better everyday.”
The competition behind Tucker gives him added motivation.
“The competition at running back is stiff,” Tucker said. “There are four guys back there right now with the potential to start. I want to give my best effort for each of those guys every time they touch the ball because they are fighting for a spot just like I am. I don’t want to let any of them down.”
Riley Feeling Good To Be Back in the Mix
Last season red shirt freshman running back Ja Ja Riley went to head coach Jim Tressel’s office and recommended that he take a red shirt year to learn the system and further develop himself as a tailback.
The extra year paid off and this year Riley is back, stronger and faster, competing for a job in the Buckeye backfield.
“It feels so great to be back in the mix competing with all the other guys for a spot,” Riley said. “I feel the spring really helped me. I was able to take last year to get stronger and faster. That has really helped me prepare for this year to be ready for the competition.”
And there is no secret the battle at running back is fierce. Sophomores Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross are talented speedsters to go along with highly-touted freshman Maurice Clarett. Those names certainly present a challenge, but Riley is up to it.
“Competing against those guys is only going to make me better,” Riley said. “Hopefully I’m able to help the team in any way that I can. Whatever the coaches ask me to do I’ll do.
“We’re all doing what the coaches want us to do. Any of us are capable of getting the job done. We’re all on the right track.”
