Wisconsin Football TE Hayden Rucci Announces Future Plans

Rucci will play in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Years Day, but will forgo his final year of eligibility to head to the league. He is now the fourth Badgers player to declare for the NFL, joining Braelon Allen, Tanor Bortolini, and Jason Maitre.

Hayden Rucci Declares for the NFL Draft

Rucci joined Wisconsin as a part of the 2019 recruiting class. The Lititz, Pennsylvania native was a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 463 player in the nation, the No. 22 TE, and the No. 7 player in Pennsylvania, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. UW beat out offers from Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Michigan State, Indiana, Rutgers, Syracuse, Duke, and many others for his commitment in 2018.

Rucci redshirted in his first year before appearing in 6 games in the shortened 2020 season and the 2021 season. He saw a big jump in playing time in 2022, appearing in 10 games with eight starts. His role continued in 2023 after Jake Eschenbach and Clay Cundiff left the program a few weeks before the season started. 

In five seasons with the Badgers, Rucci recorded 16 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown. He was primarily known as a blocking tight end, but he started to come into his own a bit as a receiving option. 

The Wisconsin football program will have Riley Nowakowski and Tucker Ashcraft returning next season, and will also welcome incoming freshmen Rob Booker and Grant Stec to the tight end room. 

Best of luck to Rucci at the next level.