Justin Tucker
Justin Paul Tucker (born November 21, 1989) is an American football placekicker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football at the University of Texas. He graduated from Westlake High School, near Austin.[1]
College career
Tucker played college football at the University of Texas. In 2011, concluding a 118 game rivalry with Texas A&M University and The University of Texas, Tucker kicked the game winning field goal as time expired. Texas (then ranked #25) won, 27-25.[2]
Professional career
Baltimore Ravens
An undrafted free agent in the 2012 NFL Draft, Tucker was not selected by any of the 32 teams. However, the Baltimore Ravens signed him on May 29, 2012 to begin workouts and camp for the Ravens alongside placekicker Billy Cundiff.[3] After impressive showings and accurate field goals during the team's preseason games, Tucker earned the starting job as the Ravens official placekicker upon Cundiff's release from his contract with Baltimore on August 26, 2012.[4]
In his debut season, Tucker proved to be incredibly accurate kicker, making all 42 of his PAT attempts while missing only 3 out of his 33 Field Goals. Tucker also hit two game-winning field goals in the regular season, once against the New England Patriots during Week 3 and again against the San Diego Chargers in overtime during Week 11.
On January 12, 2013, in a second-round playoff game against the Denver Broncos, Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal in double-overtime to win the game and send the Ravens to the AFC championship for the second consecutive year.[5] During the Super Bowl, Tucker attempted to run a fake field goal during a 4th-and-9 in the end zone towards the end of the 2nd quarter, but came within a yard short of converting. Despite this, Tucker won his first Super Bowl Ring.
Personal
Tucker is a practising Roman Catholic and makes the sign of the cross before every kick.[6]
References
External links
Vorlage:Current NFL placekickers Vorlage:Baltimore Ravens roster navbox Vorlage:Super Bowl XLVII
- ↑ NFL Baltimore Raves Player Profile at NFL.com. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
- ↑ Texas tops Texas A&M in thriller. In: USA Today. Abgerufen am 5. Februar 2013.
- ↑ Ryan Mink: Ravens officially sign kicker Justin Tucker. BaltimoreRavens.com, 29. Mai 2012, abgerufen am 27. August 2012.
- ↑ Ravens release Kicker Billy Cundiff in favor of rookie Justin Tucker. In: Bloomberg News. The Times-Picayune, 27. August 2012, abgerufen am 27. August 2012.
- ↑ Rick Maese: Ravens vs. Broncos: Baltimore reaches AFC title game after Justin Tucker's field goal wins it in double overtime In: The Washington Post, 12. Januar 2013. Abgerufen am 14. Januar 2013
- ↑ Ravens rookie talks faith and football by Jennifer Williams, Catholic Review. Retrieved October 31, 2012.