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Mark Rucker aspires to be a playmaker (interview)

Brandon

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May 28, 2001
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www.ucfsports.com


Mark Rucker hopes 2015 is his year to shine.

After spending his first two years at UCF as a special teams player, the redshirt junior appears to have the inside track to earn a starting position at linebacker.

Coaches experimented with different combinations of personnel throughout the two and a half weeks of camp. Rucker began August as a second team player, but ended the preseason as the No. 1 weakside linebacker alongside Domenic Spencer (middle) and Chequan Burkett (sam).

"It was really, really competitive," Rucker said following Saturday's scrimmage. "Me and Errol Clarke were going at it the whole summer. Domenic Spencer, Maurice Russell, Demeitre Brim, there was a lot of competition in that room. It's not even over yet. We've still got a whole season to go. There's going to be a lot of new faces in that lineup. We never know what's going to happen."

With two linebacker starters departing, Rucker took advantage of the opportunity.

"What really clicked for me was the weight room," Rucker said. "I took that really seriously this summer. I looked up to T.P. (Terrance Plummer) and saw what he did. I looked at his film. I just took the thing by the horns and made plays... I just attack the ball. Overall, that's what the defense does. We attack the ball, pursue the ball. Coach O'Leary just wants effort. That's all I try to do and all the defense tries to do."

Russell has logged just a couple games playing linebacker, in 2013 as a reserve against FIU and UConn. He practiced as a safety last season, but his on-field action was primarily on special teams where he recorded eight tackles. Needless to say, he's looking forward to playing a key role within the defense this year.

"I'm really excited," he said. "I'm trying to emerge as one of the playmakers on the team. That's all I'm trying to do. Just give effort and enthusiasm every day."
 
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