| Justin Tucker |
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 | Class:
Sophomore
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| Hometown:
Austin, Texas
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| High School:
Westlake
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| Height / Weight:
6-1 / 177
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| Position:
PK/P
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| Experience:
So.-1L
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· Career statistics
Second-year kicker who handled the kickoff duties in 21 games, including all 13 games as a true freshman in 2008 ... has kicked off 154 times for an average of 64.2 ypk and 33 touchbacks ... also a rugby-style punter that punted 40 times for 1,667 yards (41.7 ypk), including pinning 20 punts inside the 20 and launching nine punts over 50 yards for his career ... a prep All-American and two-time all-district performer ... a versatile athlete who also saw action at cornerback, free safety and wide receiver as a prepster ... a member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll (Spring 2008).
Sophomore (2009) Appeared eight games and kicked off 60 times for an average of 64.2 ypk and 10 touchbacks ... has punted 26 times on the season for an average of 39.8 ypp, pinning 12 punts inside the 20 and launching four punts over 50 yards ... kicked off eight times for 525 yards (65.6 ypk) and one touchback versus ULM ... used his only punt of the game to pin UTEP inside the 20-yard line and kicked off nine times for two touchbacks and a 62.1 ypk average ... averaged 45.4 yards per punt, including a season-long 60-yarder and pinned three of his eight punts inside the 20-yard line against Oklahoma ... landed both his punts inside the 20 and averaged 40.5 yards per punt at Missouri ... punted three times for an average of 41.3 yards, including a 52-yarder and one inside the 20 at Oklahoma State.
FRESHMAN (2008)
Appeared in all 13 games and kicked off 94 times for an average of 64.5 ypk ... tallied 23 touchbacks and held opponents to an average starting field position of the 27-yard line ... a rugby-style punter that punted 14 times for 633 yards (45.2 ypk) ... placed eight of his 14 punts inside the 20 ... tallied five special-teams tackles ... recorded eight kickoffs for 532 yards (66.5 ypk) and a touchback versus FAU ... added five touchbacks on seven kickoffs (69.7 ypk) at UTEP ... notched eight kickoffs for 530 yards (66.2 ypk) with four touchbacks against Rice ... logged his first career tackle versus Arkansas ... kicked off seven times for 456 yards (65.1 ypk) and two touchbacks at Colorado ... recorded eight kickoffs for 525 yards (65.6 ypk) and a touchdback against No. 1 Oklahoma ... posted nine kickoffs for 466 yards (51.8 ypk) and a touchback against No. 11 Missouri ... also notched a tackle versus the Tigers ... kicked off five times for 297 yards (59.4 ypk) against No. 6 Oklahoma State ... also recorded his first career punt, a 40-yarder that landed inside the 20, against the Cowboys ... recorded six kickoffs for 412 yards (68.7 ypk) and three touchbacks at No. 7 Texas Tech ... also punted four times, landing all four inside the 20, for 227 yards (56.8 ypp), including a career-long 67-yarder, against the Red Raiders ... kicked off eight times for 539 yards (67.4 ypk) and a touchback versus Baylor ... also logged a 53-yard punt and two special-teams tackles against the Bears ... landed two of his three punts inside the 20 and recorded six kickoffs for 385 yards (64.2 ypk) and a touchback at Kansas ... also logged a special teams tackle against the Jayhawks ... kicked off eight times for 504 yards (63.0 ypk) and a touchback against Texas A&M ... posted a 46.8 yards per punt average, which is tied for first in Texas' bowl game history, on five punts and also kicked off five times for 316 yards (63.2 ypk) against No. 10 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Derek Long at Westlake H.S. ... a prep All-American and all-district performer ... played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl ... ranked as the third-best place-kicker in the nation by ESPN ... three-year letterman as a place-kicker ... made 30-of-44 FG attempts and 155-of-162 PAT attempts during his career ... also saw action at cornerback, free safety and wide receiver ... named third-team 5A all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association and first-team all-district 25-5A at place-kicker as a senior ... connected on 10-of-15 FGs and 40-of-40 PATs ... also tallied eight receptions for 185 yards and two TDs ... earned first-team all-district honors as a junior ... helped Westlake advance to the 5A Div. I state championship game by connecting on 11-of-16 FGs and 67-of-71 PATs ... also recorded 45 tackles and scored on a 65-yard INT return ... went 3-of-3 on FGs, 2-of-2 PATs and kicked off five times (66.7 ypk) against Southlake Carroll in the 5A Div. I state championship game ... connected on 9-of-13 FGs and 48-of-51 PATs as a sophomore ... also was a two-year letterwinner and starter in soccer.
PERSONAL
Born in Houston, Texas ... moved to Austin when he was three ... a member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll ... active in UT's community service program ... is part of a group of Longhorns that regularly visits patients at the Austin Children's Hospital ... a prep honor student ... a three-time academic all-district performer ... earned first-team academic all-state honors as a senior ... participated in Relay for Life, a cancer awareness and fundraising project ... grandfather, Paul Tucker Sr., played linebacker at Alabama ... parents, Paul and Michelle, both graduated from UT ... sister, Nicole, is currently a sophomore at Texas ... enjoys playing video games, ping pong and singing.
THE TUCKER FILE
Nickname: J-Tuck
Favorite TV channel: ESPN
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite movie: 300
Favorite actor: Al Pacino
Favorite actress: Scarlett Johansson
Sports hero: Adam Vinateri
Favorite superhero: Jack Bauer
Favorite CD: Play Deep by The Outfield
Favorite video game: Madden
Pets: Dogs (Milo and Toby)
Nobody knows I can: Play Journey songs on the piano
I came to Texas because: I have been a Longhorn fan for as long as I can remember
