Unlike last season it was day two of the NFL draft before a player from the University of Cincinnati's name was called. Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner became UC's highest-ever pick when the Jets selected the shutdown corner in 2022 with the fourth overall pick
Late Friday while watching the 2023 NFL draft in his hometown of Akron, Tre Tucker had briefly exited his gathering of friends and went to his room. There, his phone rang.
"I went, 'Who's this?'," Tucker said.
He had been exchanging text messages with teammate Tyler Scott in Cincinnati, but this time his screen read, "Raiders". Tucker answered and not long after was picked No. 100 of the 2023 draft in round three. Though Scott was projected to be picked higher, it was Tucker off the board first for the Bearcats this year.
"I just was really ecstatic," he said. "It was emotional and I'm just excited to be a Raider. They've got great receivers out there and I'm just happy to be a part of the room. I'm a really big fan of the Raiders, I've always been."
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound speedster was an explosive kick returner for the Bearcats ranking fifth in all-time kickoff return average (25.93) and third in kick return yards (1,670) as well as third with 67 total kickoff returns. He returned two "to the house" for UC including one at Indiana during the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal season. Tucker caught 52 passes for 671 yards and three scores in 2022. He joined several teammates in the 2023 Senior Bowl.
While teammate Scott stayed in Cincinnati for a draft-watch party Friday, Tucker went back to the Akron area where both are from. During the draft, they texted after each pick. It was a little awkward at the Scott gathering when Tucker's name popped up when everyone had been waiting all night for Tyler's. Still, there was applause and positivity among the two friends.
"That's my brother, I love him to death!" Tucker said. "I'm excited to see where he lands."
Tucker is the eighth Bearcats’ wide receiver selected all-time and his pick marks the second straight year a Bearcat was chosen with the 100th overall pick, joining Myjai Sanders in 2022. The Bearcats have had receivers chosen in each of the past two years now as he joins 2022 Indianapolis Colts second-round pick Alec Pierce.
Tucker ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at UC's Pro Day held at Bengals headquarters, as did Scott. The speedster finished with 112 receptions for 1,433 yards and eight touchdown catches over 50 games. He added 16 tackles on special teams, proving to be a versatile weapon for the Bearcats there as well as in the return game.
During his time UC won 42 games including the magical 2021 season where they finished 13-1 losing only to Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal Cotton Bowl. Tucker participated in the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl and earned a sports administration degree. He becomes the first UC player taken by the Raiders since defensive back John Bowie went in the fourth round in 2007.
He'll join the second-round pick of the Raiders, Michael Mayer of Notre Dame and nearby Covington Catholic.
"I know he's a great player, we played against him junior year (at Notre Dame)," Tucker said. "He lit our defense up. We were talking about it all week. I'm excited to join him out there and get things going."
He also looks forward to the Raider fans who make every Sunday Halloween in their spirited game garb.
"It's the perfect place to go," Tucker said. "The fans are there. Las Vegas is great. Everything about it is perfect."
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