Tucker Is Ready To Make An Impact

Written by Iowa State Athletics Communications student assistant, Harrison March

Day after day, week after week, there was a knock at Demond Tucker's door. He knew it meant he was in for another recruiting pitch, another coach willing him to play out his final two years of eligibility with their program.

“It was stressful – very stressful,” Tucker recalled. “Coaches calling every minute, coming to see me, coming to my house.”

Such is the life, however, as a consensus top-40 JUCO player and a top-three JUCO defensive tackle, according to ESPN. Two year totals of 104 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks were enough to make recruiting coordinators across the country pick up the phone, but toss in being the first-ever freshman to be named NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, and Tucker was the belle of the recruiting ball.

When Iowa State came knocking, however, things were different. This was a team where Tucker knew he could fit in quickly and having former Copiah-Lincoln Community College teammate Jordan Harris on the roster only sweetened the deal.

“I just felt like this would be my best fit, so that's why I chose Iowa State,” Tucker said. “Having Jordan here, I mean, it was a big difference because I knew that I have somebody from home that's a good friend and I won't get home sick too much.”

It wasn't an easy race to win over Tucker, as Rhoads and his staff had to compete with Kansas State, Louisville, TCU and Mississippi, among others. It was, however, a race that Rhoads believes was well worth staying in for the long haul.

“Demond Tucker is an exciting defensive football player,” Rhoads said. “He had some injuries in his sophomore season that affected his stats a little bit but he certainly hasn't taken a step backward from a talent standpoint.”

Breaking onto the NJCAA scene so quickly may have come as a surprise to some, but to Tucker it made perfect sense.

He's a player who has prided himself on flexibility on the defensive front. Whether it's disrupting the pocket or fighting off blocks to drop running backs for a loss, Tucker feels that he is up to the challenge.

Being an all-around defensive game changer is what led to multiple 50-tackle, double-digit tackles-for-loss seasons at Copiah-Lincoln, and is why Tucker likes his chances at replicating those results as a Cyclone.

“I'm a pass rusher and a run stopper, really. Being [versatile] is probably one of my biggest strengths,” Tucker said.

Tucker's ability to alter plays in multiple facets will be valuable to ISU, which is tasked with replacing the graduated Cory Morrissey, last year's sack leader. The task is certainly tall, but
Rhoads sees in Tucker the tools necessary to take it on.

“Explosive, fast, relentless in his pursuit of the football,” Rhoads said. “He knows how to finish when he gets there, he brings some athleticism to our defensive line as we have gone through some change and adjustments that are surely needed right now.”

But physical ability is only one half of what it takes to be a great defensive player in Division I football. The other, perhaps less glamorous half, is smarts.

It won't matter if Tucker can fill the gaps on fourth-and-short if he doesn't know which gap to plug up. To him, that's just another aspect that sets him apart from the competition.

“I work on my speed a lot and try to make myself stronger, but I also have to get wiser,” Tucker said. “That way I can know the offense's move before they even make it.”

Although Tucker has proven himself on the Junior College level, he now has to climb the mountain that is the Big 12 to show everyone he can be just as impactful at the next level. While that is just another challenge he feels prepared to face, Tucker also sees it as an honor – one that put him at a loss for words while trying to describe his excitement.

The size and athleticism, the mental edge and willingness to work and a track record of success have Tucker poised to make a name for himself. It's not that he only envisions success in the Cardinal and Gold, but he already sees it.

“I'm going to bring great pressure and I'm going to cause a lot of fumbles. I feel like I'm going to be a big impact player here,” Tucker said.

Players Mentioned

Jordan Harris

Jordan Harris

Cory Morrissey

Demond Tucker

Demond Tucker

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