Star UNC football player enters 2025 NFL draft

A top UNC football pass rusher is heading to the 2025 NFL draft.

North Carolina’s roster for the 2025 college football season will look a lot different with the pending head coach change. In this day of college football the transfer portal is also a big factor, leading to “free agency” for players and programs.

But for North Carolina, one of their top defensive players won’t be returning for next season and it’s not due to the portal. Pass rusher Kaimon Rucker announced on Wednesday that he is entering his name into the 2025 NFL draft.

He made the announcement on social media Wednesday, declaring for April’s draft.

Rucker developed into North Carolina’s best pass rusher, playing five seasons at North Carolina. He registered 180 total tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 22 sacks in his career.

He finished this past season with 30 tackles, 6 sacks in 8 games despite missing a few games. He left UNC’s season finale against NC State with an injury early in the first quarter.

Rucker will now look to continue his football career at the next level and will begin the draft process this offseason.

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