Rucker a Falcon?
Asked where he expected to go in next weekend’s NFL draft, former Missouri tight end Martin Rucker did not hesitate.
“Atlanta, the second round,” Rucker told The Star. “Of course, I don’t know.”
But that is the first-team All-American’s impression.
Lorenzo Williams, a nose tackle and the lone defensive starter lost by MU from last season, expects to go in the “fifth or sixth round,” or as a free agent.
•Seniors on Missouri’s Cotton Bowl winning team received gaudy diamond and gold encrusted rings at halftime.
“Is that special looking?” MU coach Gary Pinkel said, flashing the heavy bling on his finger. “I’m not going to wear it after today.”
Why?
“We’re going to get a bigger one next year,” Pinkel said.
•MU’s punting formation consisted of a center, a punter and a lone receiver downfield. Three players. And under those conditions, Jake Harry’s first two punts went for 27 and 32 yards. Harry boomed and rolled one with the wind for 68 yards. Back against the wind, the next punt went 12 yards.
•On the first play of the second quarter, Chase Daniel forced a pass deep down the left sideline. It was picked off by Hardy Ricks at the 2 and returned to the defense’s 16.
•Cornerback Trey Hobson forced Jeremy Maclin out of the end zone, preventing an under-the-goalpost TD reception. Hobson later hammered Jared Perry to the ground, making the receiver pay with one of the hardest hits of the day.
•Before next season, somebody has to stop Missouri’s public-address announcer from pulling a Kansas State. Already irritating is the announcer saying: “First Down, M-I-Z!” and the crowd answering “Z-O-U.”
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