Rucker Named to Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Arkansas State senior wide receiver Corey Rucker has been named to the 2025 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation announced Wednesday.
The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually to college football’s most outstanding FBS receiver, regardless of position. Rucker becomes just the seventh player in Arkansas State history to earn a spot on the prestigious watch list, joining a list of program greats including Te’Vailance Hunt (2022), Jonathan Adams Jr. (2020), Omar Bayless (2019), Kirk Merritt (2019), J.D. McKissic (2013), and Dwayne Frampton (2011). Both Adams and Bayless were named semifinalists in their respective years.
Entering the 2025 season, Rucker already holds the school record for career receiving yards with 3,037. He also ranks second in program history in both career touchdown receptions (23) and total catches (180). In 2024, he recorded 1,053 yards on 69 receptions—marking the fourth-highest single-season yardage total in A-State history and making him the seventh player in program history to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
A standout on and off the field, Rucker is a two-time Second Team All-Conference honoree (2021, 2024) and was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2021. He has already earned First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt honors this year from both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
Rucker also appears on several other prestigious watch lists heading into the 2025 campaign, including the Maxwell Award, Wuerffel Trophy, and East-West Shrine Bowl.
The Biletnikoff Award is part of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which includes 25 of college football’s most highly regarded awards. The NCFAA has recognized over 950 recipients since its inception in 1935.
Rucker and the Red Wolves are looking to build on a strong foundation after back-to-back bowl appearances, including a 2024 victory over Bowling Green in the 68 Ventures Bowl. Arkansas State is one of just four FBS programs to increase its regular season win total each year since 2022.
A-State will open the 2025 season at home on Saturday, August 30, against Southeast Missouri. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at Centennial Bank Stadium.