Hayden Rucci, a former Badgers tight end from the Wisconsin football program, has embarked on the next chapter of his playing career.
Despite not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Rucci has secured a spot with the Miami Dolphins, signing as an undrafted free agent.
Known for his inline-blocking prowess during his tenure with Wisconsin football, Rucci played an important role in the Badgers offensive scheme under former head coach Paul Chryst.
However, with the Badgers’ transition to an air raid offensive system led by Phil Longo, the demand for blocking tight ends diminished, pushing Rucci into a slightly more receiving-oriented role. Despite the shift, Rucci contributed 11 catches for 125 yards during the 2023 season.
Of Rucci’s 398 total snaps played at tight end under Luke Fickell last season, the Wisconsin football coaches used him as a run or pass blocker on 244 of them, according to Pro Football Focus. Also worth noting is that the Pennsylvania native graded out as an above-average to high-quality asset as a blocker for the Badgers in three of his four seasons.
As Rucci joins the Dolphins, his unique skill set and Big Ten experience will give him a fighting chance to carve out a niche role. Now, we’ll have to see how the 6-foot-4, 254-pound mauler fits into Miami’s high-flying offensive scheme under head coach Mike McDaniel.
Rucci will now be the second former Wisconsin football player on the Miami Dolphins roster, joining Badgers fullback Alex Ingold.
Rucci is one of four Badgers who were able to find NFL opportunities after going undrafted. Tanner Mordecai inked a deal with the 49ers, Peter Bowden joined the Packers with a chance to compete for their starting job at long-snapper, and Maema Njongmeta wound up with the Bengals.
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