Art Rucker

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Class: Senior Hometown: Shawnee, Kan. High School: Shawnee Mission North

Last College: Fort Scott (Kan.) CC Height / Weight: 6-2 / 194 Position: Safety Experience: 1L

Projected as the team's No. 2 free safety behind Mike Crutcher, Rucker turned heads this spring and provided needed depth at a key position ... Had 2 solo tackles and a pass break up in the Maroon and White Game (4/21/12) ... Also landed a spot on the MSU Athletic Director's Honor Roll for the spring 2012 semester.

Fort Scott CC: Played two seasons as a receiver for Coach Curtis Horton at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College ... Team was 4-4 in 2011 and 3-6 his freshman season.

High School: Was a three-year starter at a smorgasboard of positions -- including QB, WR, DB and LB -- for Coach Ryan Majors at Shawnee Mission (Kan.) North High ... Earned All-Sunflower League honorable mention honors three straight seasons from 2007-09 ... Named team captain and SMN Male Athlete of the Year as a senior ... Was also a three-year starter on the basketball team and was a jumper on the track team.

Personal: Arthur Lewis Rucker, Jr., was born 9/6/91 in Overland Park, Kan. ... Son of Arthur Sr. and Cynthia Rucker of Shawnee, Kan. ... Has a brother, Kevin, and two sisters, Angelica and Alexandria ... Majoring in Political Science.