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The Wisconsin Badgers will play against former Wisconsin offensive lineman Nolan Rucci on Saturday when the team hosts the No. 3-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
Rucci played at Wisconsin from 2021-2023 before transferring to Penn State before the 2024 season.
Related: Ranking the biggest storylines entering Wisconsin’s premier matchup with Penn State
The offensive lineman originally joined the Badgers program as a five-star recruit in the class of 2021 — ranked as the No. 16 overall player in the class and No. 5 offensive tackle. His 0.9918 247Sports rating was good enough to rank No. 2 among the all-time highest-rated recruits in Wisconsin program history.
Nolan Rucci, the younger brother of former Badgers tight end Hayden Rucci (2019-2023), went on to redshirt during the 2021 season before playing sparingly in 2022. His role remained limited in 2023, with Jack Nelson and Riley Mahlman back as the team’s starting left and right tackles, respectively. He was a part of a defining moment of that season, however, as he caught a game-winning touchdown pass from QB Braedyn Locke in the Badgers’ narrow win over Illinois.
CLUTCH. WISCONSIN TAKES THE LEAD!! 🤯@BadgerFootball 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kGRD3EHHFT
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 21, 2023
Nelson and Mahlman both returned in 2024 to lead a Wisconsin offensive line that is among the best in the conference. Rucci opted to enter the transfer portal, and went on to commit to Penn State.
The former top recruit currently plays a reserve role for the 2024 Nittany Lions. He primarily sees the field in jumbo packages and other heavy-personnel formations. Otherwise, he is the team’s primary backup right tackle — and has seen some game action at the position in relief of starter Anthony Donkoh.
Donkoh should be healthy exiting the Nittany Lions’ Week 8 bye, which means Rucci is likely to see the field only in specialty situations on…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-facing-former-badgers-ol-111543421.html
Author : Badgers Wire
Publish date : 2024-10-24 11:15:43
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