2022 NFL Draft: Ohio State’s Jeremy Ruckert to have an expanded role next season

While most of the focus is on the 2021 NFL Draft, another important event is happening in football this time of the year. That event is spring ball which most teams will start later this month. A player to keep an eye on during this is Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert, who should have a much larger role for the Ohio State Buckeyes this coming season.

The main reason Ruckert will see a larger role is due to Luke Farrell moving onto the NFL. Another reason Ruckert should see increased playing time as offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson thinks he could go from seeing action on 60% of the offensive snaps this year to 80% this season, is a lack of depth at the tight end position. The only other player to take tight end snaps last season for Ohio State was Cade Stover who only took six snaps.

One area Ruckert will see more work at is as an in-line blocker. This role was filled by Luke Farrell last year, who did a good enough job at it to earn himself a late-round draft grade. When Ruckert has been asked to block he has been very effective at it and he has developed more in this area of his game since he came out of high school.

This extended playing time should see Ruckert improve his production as a receiver as well. Last season, he only caught 13 passes for 151 yards. If he can improve his route running it would not be a shock if he caught close to 30 balls next year, and became Ohio State’s number three receiver behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.

In terms of where his draft stock is he will likely come into the season as a prospect with a second or third-round draft grade. However, if he cashes in on this extended playing time and improves as a route runner and blocker he has a shot of being a late first-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.