Sophomore third baseman Nick Rucker has committed to Eastern Illinois for the fall. He will join high school and junior college teammate Ja'Lil Akbar who has also committed to the Panthers. As a freshman, Nick slashed .333/.449/.444. In the shortened 2020 spring, he hit .535, hit 7 home runs, and was 2nd in the nation with a slugging percentage of 1.163 in 15 games. Rucker will continue to play a big role this spring at third base and be an important part of the Blue Knights offense. Eastern Illinois competes in the Division 1 Ohio Valley Conference. 

Nick is from Louisville, Kentucky and attended Pleasure Ridge Park High School.