Jets Country

Justin Fields' College Teammate Tabbed 'Player To Watch' For Jets

Justin Fields and Jeremy Ruckert could look to be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.
Zach Pressnell|
Dec 5, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Jeremy Ruckert (88) during the first quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
Dec 5, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Jeremy Ruckert (88) during the first quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images | Tim Fuller-Imagn Images

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New York Jets

The New York Jets signed Justin Fields this offseason and reunited him with a duo of pass catchers from his days at Ohio State. Garrett Wilson is the obvious connection from Fields' time in college, but tight end Jeremy Ruckert played a few seasons with the Buckeyes as a teammate of Fields', too.

Craig Moffett of USA Today recently listed Ruckert as one of the Jets' players to watch during the team's minicamp.

"It's unlikely that Ruckert's spot is in any serious jeopardy, but it's no secret that he's been disappointing since being drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft," Moffett wrote. "He didn't get much time to shine in the offense under Robert Saleh, but Aaron Glenn likes his potential saying, 'There's a lot of meat on the bone with that player.' The Jets drafted Mason Taylor in the second round and he's the favorite to be the starting tight end.

"They've also been linked as a potential landing spot for Atlanta's Kyle Pitts and Baltimore's Mark Andrews should either become available in a trade. Ruckert has the ability. It's time for him to start showing it."

Ruckert was never a huge weapon with Fields at Ohio State. He never posted more than a few hundred receiving yards in a season, though a lot of that could be attributed to all the weapons Ohio State had. But the tight end was a monster in the red zone for the Buckeyes.

Fields routinely targeted Ruckert near the goal line and that kind of trust could carry over to the NFL. While Ruckert will battle with 2025 NFL Draft pick Mason Taylor for playing time, it wouldn't be a shock to see the Ohio State product bring in more than a handful of touchdowns this year.

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "New York Jets On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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