Corey Rucker, Arkansas State Football News: Draft Scout Player News

05/18/22 - WR Corey Rucker, rJr/2026, Arkansas State

Incoming South Carolina receiver Corey Rucker needs a new ice cream shop. It's not that he's trying to fight off the hellish midsummer Columbia heat, though that will come. He's not even really hankering for sweets. It's simply part of a routine that dates back to his time at Arkansas State and a tradition borne out of a relationship between quarterback and receiver he hopes will translate to South Carolina. "I was always a big fan of throwing at night," former Arkansas State quarterback Layne Hatcher told The State. "That's when I liked to throw and (Rucker) was always willing to come, and sometimes I just had to buy him some ice cream afterwards." "I didn't understand what those late nights in the indoor (facility) running routes and throwing meant (then)," Rucker added. "It comes to those situations where we've repped this so much and he's throwing the ball so much, we have so much connection and such a relationship, that it just happens. He just throws the ball and I know how it's gonna come." That the ex-Arkansas State star landed in the Southeastern Conference is a long time coming.

It wasn't that long ago that he and his coaches couldn't convince in-state schools to take a swing on him out of high school and he seemed destined for junior college. Three years later, Rucker profiles as an immediate impact piece this year and a receiver the Gamecocks can build around heading into 2022 and beyond. Had he stayed at Arkansas State, he was on pace to see his name scattered around the school's record books. After a coaching change from Anderson to former Tennessee coach Butch Jones, Rucker felt he had a chance to parlay his second season at ASU that included 59 receptions for 826 yards and nine touchdowns into the SEC chance he sought out of high school. - Rock Hill Herald

rJr/2026