Oklahoma State safety Trey Rucker was a crucial defensive piece during Friday’s upset win over Kansas State. His big night came less than 14 days after being arrested on suspicion of DUI, his second.
Rucker, a redshirt senior, began his college football career with two years at Wake Forest before transferring to play in Stillwater before his junior season. He finished as the Cowboys’ second-leading tackler with five solo tackles and six assists as the defense held the Wildcats to 21 points in the eight-point win.
There were multiple moments throughout the night in which Rucker stepped up to make a big play. One of which came when Kansas State was knocking on the door on 2nd-and-4 in the third quarter.
The 6-foot-0, 207-pound safety came downhill for a key tackle for loss. Oklahoma State forced a turnover a few plays later to keep key points off of the board.
ESPN’s play-by-play announcer snuck in a key piece of information during the call. Rucker had been arrested less than a week prior.
According to police, Rucker was arrested on Sunday, Sept. 24 during the team’s bye week. He was charged on Tuesday, which marked his second arrest for suspicion of DUI.
Trey Rucker was already on probation.
Trey Rucker was arrested for DUI back in 2021, along with multiple other charges like assault on a police officer, actual physical control, resisting an officer, leaving the scene of an accident, and operating a car with his license suspended or revoked. Rucker pleaded guilty to all of the charges. The court lowered them all to misdemeanors.
The court deferred judgement and sentence until August 7, 2024, but Rucker had to pay court costs, complete a drug and alcohol course, serve 30 hours of community service, and serve a year of court-supervised probation. Terms of his probation strictly mandated that he did not violate any laws.
Rucker was arrested again in late September. His preliminary hearing for the most recent arrest is scheduled for Nov. 6.
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy allowed Rucker to be active with the team moving forward. The 56-year-old always handles things the same way.
You know the same thin I do. I’m going to let the system run its course. All I know is what they’ve told me and the information I have.
He’s active until the system takes its place and we can make a decision. Essentially, I can’t get ahead of the process based on the type of incident that took place. I’ve got to let the system run its course and make a decision from that point.
— Mike Gundy
Rucker will be allowed on the field until at least Nov. 6. His presence on the field was crucial for the Cowboys, who moved to 3-2 on Friday night.