Interview: The Football Force is Strong with 2023 Texas OL Cross Tucker
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Every now and again, the all and powerful gridiron universe comes together manifesting something truly unique. At The Woodlands High School, that unique development is Cross Tucker. As Tucker (6-2, 330) took the field during his sophomore season against 6A Texas competition at left guard, he had the football force guiding him. Tucker’s father Rex was a first round NFL pick out of Texas A&M in 1999 to the Chicago Bears and his uncle Ryan Tucker was a 1997 fourth round to the St. Louis Rams out of TCU. The combined collegiate and NFL knowledge is helping the next generation lineman carry forward the family legacy.
When Tucker takes the field for his junior season with the Highlanders, he will be doing so at left tackle and with collegiate scouts watching. Tucker is pulling in recruiting interest from Rice, UNLV, North American, Midwestern State, and SMU among others.
In an RNG first-look interview, Tucker covers ground on his offseason workouts, move to left tackle, and college camp circuit.
Interview
Cross, you may have nothing else to reference it against, but what is it like in the Texas 6A trenches on a Friday night?
It is exciting. I can’t explain the feeling I get, playing with my brother (Titan) and my good friend MJ Ruben (Baylor). They made it easy on me. It was fun playing with two guys I have known my whole life.
Playing left guard in the Highlanders offensive scheme, what are the main keys to the position one has to do to be successful?
Focusing on your steps and being able to cover up the linebacker. My ninth-grade year I struggled with that, but I worked on it over the offseason and got it down. I keep improving and hopefully will improve even more. Footwork is a big deal at our school.
When did you get the call to varsity?
Right after Covid. We didn’t have spring football, had we, I would have been starting in spring game. I was practicing with varsity during my ninth-grade season.
Very cool. What style of offense are you guys executing?
A Spread.
You have that nasty streak in you that college coaches love looking to finish a play pancaking a defender. Did you track how many pancakes and/or knockdowns you got last season?
I want to say around 25 to 30 pancakes last year.
What are some of the attributes to your game that makes you standout from other guards?
I feel like I am really good at getting around the edge and with my pass block. When the outside linebacker is blitzing, picking him up, hitting guys on double teams, and getting to the next level. I can scoop the nose guard on outside runs.
After watching your film, I have to ask if you wrestle based on how you use leverage?
I wrestled during my fifth and sixth grade years. I won state twice.
This offseason, what have you been working on with your pass-pro blocking skills?
For my pass-pro, I work with my trainer along with Kaden and Koltin (Sieracki). We workout three times a week. Our trainer mixes it up with one pass-pro session and two run blocking or two pass-pro and one run blocking. We get a good mix in. We focus on staying back, not getting too aggressive with our hands where we are leaning out over our toes, and being patient for the move so we can react.
And with your run blocking?
We are working on trying to be able to get to the next level and being more powerful with our helping blocks. I am playing left tackle this year, I have been practicing all year for left tackle.
Do you like playing left tackle?
Yes, sir. It is a new challenge. I feel like I am doing well at in practices. I am very excited. It is a good challenge, and I know I can do it.
What have you been doing in the weight room to add that needed power to your talents?
We do everything from deadlifts, to bench, squat, cleans, shrugs – everything. We are keeping the muscle and building on it. They also have us building our muscle stamina so our arms and legs do not get tired from being in our stance.
What are some of your maxes?
My bench max is 335 and my squat is 600.
Wow. You got 600 on squat?
Yes, sir.
That is impressive.
Thank you.
This summer, have you had a chance to showcase your skills at any college camps?
Yes, sir. I have been to U-of-H (Houston), TCU, SMU, A&M, and HBU (Houston Baptist).
The TCU camp, how did that go for you?
It was a really good camp. My uncle went to TCU. He was a right tackle there (Ryan Tucker). He played in the pros for 11 years.
At the A&M camp, how did you do during the one-on-ones?
It went well. I was proud of the way I played.
What drills did the coaches have you do at the A&M camp?
We did run block drills where we pound our feet, hitting the bags, and driving the bags like they are a linebacker. They had us do pulling drills and post pass blocking drills. My dad played at A&M; he played left guard there and he played in the pros for nine years (Rex Tucker). They also had us kick slide back inside, keeping our front foot forward, moving laterally, hitting the bag as it was moving with you.
Do you have any other camps coming up?
Yes, I am going to a UTSA and I am trying to go to Baylor.
Before we wrap, do you have anything you want to share?
Whatever happens, God has me and will put me where I need to be.
Cross, thanks for your time today. Keep up all the hard work.
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Photo credit: Tucker family; Cross Tucker