And, as if ofttimes the case, “a better fit” can be translated into “a better shot at meaningful playing time.”
As transfer day here at CFT continues unabated, Malik Rucker confirmed to the Quad City Times that he has decided to transfer out of Kirk Ferentz‘s Iowa football program. The move, the Times notes, comes after the defensive back was unable to crack the spring two-deep depth chart.
Saying he was seeking “a better fit” in his transfer, Rucker acknowledged that the decision wasn’t a rush to judgment on his part.
“I spent a lot of time thinking about it and I need to do what is the best thing for me,” Rucker told the paper. “It’s a tough thing to do, but I feel like it is something I have to do.”
The school subsequently confirmed in a press release that Rucker will continue his college career elsewhere.
“We have honored Malik’s request to be released from his scholarship and we wish him well in the future,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said in a brief statement.
Rucker played in six games as a second-year freshman in 2014. After joining the Hawkeyes as a three-star member of their 2013 recruiting class, Rucker took a redshirt as a true freshman.
Prior to signing with Iowa, the Minnesota native held scholarship offers from, among others, Arizona State, Duke, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, North Carolina State, Texas Tech and Washington State. Arizona State, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Minnesota and North Carolina State, along with Iowa, were all finalists for Rucker’s services the first time around; it’s unknown if any of the first six will be in the mix during this second recruiting process.