JONESBORO, Ark. (7/28/25) – Arkansas State senior wide receiver Corey Rucker was named Monday to the 2025 Maxwell Award Watch List.

The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Rucker is among 80 players from across the nation to earn a spot on the watch list for the prestigious award.

Rucker becomes the fifth player in Arkansas State history to be named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, joining wide receiver Kirk Merritt (2019) and quarterbacks Layne Hatcher (2021), Justice Hansen (2018) and Fredi Knighten (2015).

Rucker enters the 2025 season with the most career receiving yards in Arkansas State history (3,037), second-most career touchdown catches (23) and second-most career receptions (180). Rucker became A-State’s seventh player to total 1,000 receiving yards in a season with 1,053 yards on 69 catches, the fourth-most receiving yards in a single season in program history. He averaged 81.0 yards per game and had five games with 100-plus yard performances. He had a season-high 193 receiving yards on 12 catches against Troy and a long reception of 79 yards in the 68 Ventures Bowl victory against Bowling Green.

A two-time Second Team All-Conference honoree (2021, 2024) and 2021 FWAA Freshman All-America pick, Rucker was selected First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference. He is also a First Team Preseason All-Sun Belt pick by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports publications. He is also a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and on the East-West Shrine Bowl Watch List. 

The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.

The Red Wolves are coming off back-to-back bowl appearances, including a win in the 2024 68 Ventures Bowl against Bowling Green. A-State is among four FBS programs to increase its regular season win total every season since 2022.

Arkansas State will kick off its 2025 season at home on Aug. 30, when the Red Wolves host Southeast Missouri at 6:00 p.m. Season tickets may be purchased by calling the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401 or online by visiting AStateRedWolves.com/Tickets.