CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina defensive standout Kaimon Rucker was named as a finalist for the 2024 Jason Witten Man of the Year award on Monday. The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field.
Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport, served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 16-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
A second-team All-ACC performer in 2023, Rucker started the year on the watch lists for the Nagurski and Bednarik Awards and registered six sacks this season despite missing a few games due to injury.
Throughout his career, Rucker has tallied 180 tackles, 22 sacks, 38.5 tackles-for-loss, four forced fumbles and an interception during five years in Chapel Hill. His 22 sacks rank sixth all-time at UNC, one ahead of the great Lawrence Taylor. His 38.5 TFL rank eighth all-time at UNC. Despite being limited to just eight games due to injury this season, Rucker managed to post 30 tackles, six sacks, eight TFL and an interception.
Rucker matched his career-high with eight tackles while adding a career-high three sacks against Virginia, while also adding his first career interception. The Hartwell, Georgia, native also recorded five tackles in back-to-back games against Florida State (November 2) and Wake Forest (November 19), also recording a sack in each game. In the season-opener against Minnesota on August 29, he added four tackles and a sack to help lead the Tar Heels to a victory.
Always searching for ways to give back, Rucker has utilized his platform as a player and numerous NIL opportunities to be a positive force in the community. Most recently, Rucker heard about the devastation in western North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene and wanted to help. After discussing it with his support system, he decided to donate $10,000 of his NIL earnings to the MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, North Carolina. Moved by this gesture, two of North Carolina's corporate sponsors, Wells Fargo and Food Lion Feeds, decided to match his donation.
Rucker used his NIL money to provide personal hygiene items for fifth graders at his elementary school in Hartwell, Georgia, who are experiencing physical changes to their bodies. To accompany this, he conducted a seminar with the fifth graders, primarily males, in an effort to educate them on this phase of their life. Additionally, Rucker used the summer to go through the FCA Huddle Leadership Training course in an effort to become a mentor to young men ages 13-18 and help them discover/re-discover their faith in Christianity in relationship to maintaining their passion for sports.
Rucker is passionate about mental health. He's earned his degree in psychology, witg aspirations to become a sports psychologist and assist athletes with their mental health. Rucker has already served as a panelist for a number of mental health symposiums at UNC and provides frequent reminders to those around him about the importance of taking care of their mental health. Rucker has participated in numerous community service events ranging from hospital visits to youth camps to food drives throughout his career.