Football Completes Week One of Spring Ball
3/22/2025 12:25:00 PM | Football
Lewisburg, Pa. - The first week of the 2025 spring practices for Bucknell football is underway and the Bison have hit the ground running in their first days of practice.Â
69 athletes including some notable returners and new faces are participating in the 14 spring practices occurring every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings. The practices began on Tuesday, March 18 and will end with the annual Spring Game on Friday, April 18.Â
Here are some highlights from week one of spring ball:
Ralph Rucker IV - "Ain't Done Yet"
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ÂQB1 is back for a fifth year! Ralph Rucker IV is returning to the Bison for the 2025 season! #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/U8tHfQndbW
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) March 22, 2025
- Quarterback Ralph Rucker IV announced that he will be returning to Bucknell for his fifth year of eligibility to continue playing with the Bison for the 2025 season.
- Rucker IV had a great 2024 season with the Bison exceeding expectations of the league. He was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, a Walter Payton Award Finalist and earned a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team as well as being the Patriot League Player of the Week six times.Â
- Rucker IV is Bucknell's all-time leader in passing touchdowns (46) and holds the single-season record for passing yards (2,826), completions (244), completion percentage (.672), total offense (2,922) and passing touchdowns (25). He is also the single-game record holder for passing yards (457) and second all-time in passing yards (5,363).Â
Other Notable Returners
- Freshman running back Tariq Thomas will be a strong returner for the Bison. Thomas earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year, was a Jerry Rice award finalist, was named to the Patriot League second team and was a four-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week.
- Sophomore wide receiver TJ Cadden will be returning after his All-Patriot League first team performance in 2024. Cadden had two punt return touchdowns which was tied for second amongst FCS schools and recorded six touchdowns before missing the rest of the season with injury.Â
- Sophomore wide receiver Sam Milligan will be another All-Patriot League first team returner for the Bison. During the 2024 season, Milligan caught 19 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns.Â
- Sophomore offensive lineman John Ohnegian is returning to the Bison after being the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, earned All-Patriot League second team and was a part of the Academic All-Patriot League.Â
Three Added TransfersÂ
- The Bison are welcoming three transfers to the squad in spring ball including Cesar Carrasco, Christopher Dietrich and Jaiden Spearman.Â
- Cesar Carrasco is a 5'11" wide receiver from Pittsgrove New Jersey who came to Bucknell from Liberty University. Carrasco played in one game with the Flames and lettered all four years of high school in track and basketball and two years in football.Â
- Christopher Dietrich is a 6'4" wide receiver from Sparta, N.J. and came to the Bison from Temple University where he redshirted his freshman season. He lettered three years of football in high school and one in both lacrosse and basketball.Â
- Jaiden Spearman is a 6'2" defensive back from Cornelius, NC who came to Bucknell from the University of Louisville. He lettered in football in high school.Â
Bucknell Football will continue its spring ball practices before playing its annual Spring Game as follows:
Saturday, March 22: Morning session
Tuesday, March 25: 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 27: 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 29: Morning session
Tuesday, April 1: 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 3: 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 5: Morning session
Tuesday, April 8: 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 10: 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 12: Morning session
Tuesday, April 15: 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 17: Morning session
Friday, April 18: Spring Game at noon
Note: All times are subject to change
