Exclusive Interview: Boston College’s Top Recruit Ethan Tucky Is Ready To Be Great
Following in the hallowed footsteps of linebackers like Mark Herzlich and Luke Kuechly, top recruit Ethan Tucky knows what it takes to join such company at Boston College.
Our first choice doesn’t always end up being the best choice, something freshman Ethan Tucky can attest to.
A football and track standout from Rutherford B. Hayes High School in Delaware, Ohio, Tucky was widely regarded as a four-star prospect throughout much of his recruitment before being bumped down a star. Tucky’s combination of speed, power and quickness drew plenty of offers from big-time programs, of which included Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and even Wisconsin.
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Growing up a Buckeye fan, Tucky obviously had his eye on Ohio State, who showed great interest in the linebacker but never offered him.
Kentucky would’ve been a solid second option, considering the program’s proximity to Tucky’s home state, and their success producing NFL talent on the defensive side of the ball as of late.
Yet, it was a school hundreds of miles away in Boston College that he chose, taking on the lofty expectations that all Eagles’ linebackers have been held to in recent years.
Tucky’s journey up to this point has been something else, and he spoke exclusively to us here on NFL Mocks to discuss his recruiting process, how the team looks heading into the season, and where he envisions himself fitting in as a freshman, among other topics.
Let’s dive right into it.
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NFL Mocks: How did you first get into football?
Ethan Tucky: It started when I was a young kid. My dad started doing flag football with me up until third or fourth grade. Everyone would actually make fun of me because I was still playing flag [football] while they started doing tackle [football] in third or fourth grade.
But then I went to St. Mary’s in Delaware (OH) and played there for one year, and then I played with the Delaware County league for about two years, and then with the Columbus Crusaders after that. Being a kid, I never thought anything of it, even going into my freshman year of high school, I was just playing football for the fun of it. I never thought about potentially playing for a Division I college.
NM: Have you ever considered playing track and field in the spring?
ET: Honestly, I have. I have thought about doing it before, but the only thing that keeps me from really doing it is I couldn’t go home for the summer and see my family. If I pulled something or injured myself running track, I’d be really mad at myself and I know the coaches would be even more upset with me. Maybe in a few years I’ll give it a go.
NM: Why did you choose to attend Boston College over your other offers?
ET: Going on all of the visits, I just had a good feeling about it. BC [Boston College] is just such a good school, and probably the biggest thing is just the people here, like the coaches. They’re just phenomenal people, and you spend so much time with them, and I want to be around those kind of high quality people that’ll rub off on me. Being around good people and having a great education, you can’t beat that.
NM: So what’s it like playing with guys such as Matt Milano, who’s on the Butkus Award preseason watch list?
ET: It’s really cool, actually. Being a kid or when I was being recruited, seeing someone like that get nominated for an award, and now I sit next to him [Milano] in the locker room, it’s really just like, wow. At the same time, it makes me feel like if he can do it, I can too. It’s very motivating.
NM: How do you feel about the overall team heading into the 2016 season?
ET: I’m actually very confident about our team. I can truthfully say that last year’s team was very young. Coach [Steve Addazio] keeps stressing how young we were, and now all the young guys have the experience and the leadership. Everyone on the roster now is also one of Addazio’s guys.
We all have the common goal of just wanting to win. I really believe something special is going to happen this year.
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NM: Any game in particular that you’re really excited for this year?
ET: We have two Friday night games against Florida State (away) and Clemson (home). I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty sweet. Playing at FSU, I’ll definitely get a good experience of a college-level road game.
NM: A lot of scouts felt you needed to bulk up in order to play linebacker in college. How much weight, if any, have you gained since leaving high school?
ET: A very decent amount. I can’t give you exact numbers, but it’s a good amount. Whoever has me at 218 [pounds] or around the 220s, that’s just false. They definitely know how to put weight on guys here.
NM: Regardless of what that number is, do you want to put on more weight?
ET: If I can hit roughly 240 [pounds] and still keep a good amount of speed, then I’ll be very happy with that. Keeping the size and the speed, I think that’d be a really good combination.
NM: What motivates you every day to stay on your grind and to keep improving?
ET: It’s very internal, just wanting to do my best, knowing that before I go to bed every night that I did a good job today. At the same time, I want to help out the team, too, because all I want to do is help BC win. Whatever I can do to help us win is good enough for me.
No matter what I do, as long as I can help out my team and the guy next to me, that’s really it. That’s all the motivation I need at points. If I’m having a bad day, but someone else is having a bad day, too, and they need someone to help pick them up, I should be the guy to do that.
NM: Where do you see yourself fitting in with the team at this point?
ET: As of right now, hopefully second or third string MIKE [middle linebacker] for this season, and hopefully some special teams time. I’m obviously not expecting to be starting anytime soon, but if I can make special teams and travel with BC, I’d be very happy with that.
NM: You’ve drawn numerous comparisons to current NFL star and former Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. How does it make you feel when you hear that?
ET: Luke Kuechly was probably my biggest role model in high school. He’s probably the smartest linebacker in the NFL, given the way he can read plays and how he always knows what’s going on. He did the same things in college, that’s why he was such a good player.
I almost tried to model him through my film study in high school, so the fact that I end up going to BC where he went, it’s pretty hard to explain. Why can’t I be him, though? He was another kid from Ohio that came in undersized, but he sure as hell could play. I strive to be like him, and why not?
NM: It’s Jim Reid’s first year as defensive coordinator, so how steep is the learning curve in college? How’s learning the playbook going?
ET: For me, it’s a little difficult right now because it’s a lot to take in. In high school, it’s run, make the play, that kind of thing. It’s not exactly run around make the play in college football. It’s taken a lot more time to get used to, all off the assignments, all the checks, that kind of stuff.
He’s [Reid] done a phenomenal job of teaching it to me and all the other freshmen coming in. The amount of time and effort the coaches and G.A.s [graduate assistants] put in to helping us learn the playbook is unreal. Being an early enrollee also definitely was a big advantage.
NM: You’re only a freshman, but playing alongside guys who will play in the NFL, like a Matt Milano, and watching players from Boston College get drafted every year, do you see yourself having a future in the pros?
ET: I think every player can see themselves having a future in the NFL. It’s your dream, you always can strive towards it. At the end of the day, it’s a possibility, but honestly, I’m not looking that far ahead right now. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time.
As of right now, it’s that dream kind of thing, but I’ve got a lot ahead of me before I can get to that point. It’ll be a long road, but it’ll be a fun one. If you can play ball, the NFL will find you.
The biggest thing that sets Tucky apart from his peers is his work ethic. If he can keep his head down and continue to grind, then the NFL will surely find him.
Regardless of how much of the field Tucky actually sees during his freshman season, his journey at Boston College will certainly be worth keeping an eye on.
Want an early look at what you can expect from Tucky? Check out his HUDL highlights below.