[Tuck4Bama]

INDIANAPOLIS — Like many young athletes, it has been a dream of Martin Rucker's to play in the National Football League. But now that he's reached the doorstep of that dream, the NFL Scouting Combine, Rucker has been reduced to spectator status.

"Once you get here, you want to compete against the best guys," said Rucker, a three-time all-Big 12 tight end from the University of Missouri. "Especially this year when there's really no definite clear front-runner (at tight end). This is where you separate yourself, side by side, next to the guys."

But what Rucker described as a mild hamstring injury during pre-Combine training a couple of weeks ago derailed his plans to showcase his talent in Indy. Rucker was running a 40-yard dash at the Athletes' Performance Institute in Phoenix when he "tweaked" his hamstring.

STLtoday - Sports

[Gotham Dark Knight]

A lot of the top flight receivers did not bother to run at the combine I noticed...I guess you run if its going to be a postive only.