RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesAug. 24—GRAND FORKS — UND edge Lance Rucker has suffered a foot injury and the program hopes the All-American captain can return in October, Fighting Hawks head coach Eric Schmidt said Monday.
Rucker, who suffered the injury in practice Friday morning during a routine drill, will have surgery Tuesday.
"We're hoping somewhere in early to mid-October is what it looks like right now," Schmidt said. "It all depends on how he heals. For him, super disappointed. Now he knows what he's got to do to get back here."
Rucker, a senior from Omaha, was named a team captain for the second year in a row at the end of fall camp.
"Guy like Lance going down sucks," UND linebacker Micheal Devereaux said. "It's an opportunity for other people to step up and embrace new roles."
Rucker was a first-team all-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection in 2025 after recording 64 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and a single-season program record 11.5 sacks. He added four forced fumbles.
"He's someone who brings energy and life into the locker room," UND quarterback Jerry Kaminski said. "There's a lot of confidence in the defense with or without Lance. Shoutout to Lance, though, for still being a leader in the locker room."
UND, ranked No. 10 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25, opens the season at 7 p.m. Thursday against Long Island University at the Alerus Center.
With Rucker sidelined, UND turns to Brody Thornton, a second-year player from Wisconsin. Grand Forks native Erick Paye is listed as Thornton's backup, alongside Ty Vig, the younger brother of starting edge Kaden Vig.
"(Brody) is a very, very intelligent football player," Schmidt said. "I don't know if he's going to dent it as much as Lance dents it. Lance has got a second and third effort ... that's what makes Lance special. That's called motor. Rev that thing up, and he'll go all day. That's Lance's superpower, and Brody has some of that. I'm excited for him to be able to go out there and showcase what he's all about. We're not going to ask him to be Lance. We're just asking to be Brody. The future is very, very bright for him.
"There's a number of other guys, too. We've talked a lot about Erick Paye in this room, and it's time for Erick Paye. Genetically, he's the best looking guy on our team by far, and he's got to out there now and produce and be consistent. It's time. He's not a young player anymore. It's time for him to be out there and to be able to help the Hawks win some football games."
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