Kaimon Rucker named a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year

On Tuesday, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee announced the semifinalists for this year's award, one that will be awarded for an eighth time this winter. The 20 semifinalists have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field.

The UNC football star earned a reputation as a fierce pass rusher, but his contributions to society as a whole are equally as important to the amount of times he hits the opposing quarterback (trust us, he does this a lot!).

Rucker has made a tremendous impact on his local community during his five seasons with the UNC football program. As noted by the official press release, Rucker goes above and beyond to help others. Here are some of the ways that he has been involved within the community:

The UNC football star provided personal hygiene items from his personal funds to fifth graders at his old elementary school who were experiencing physical changes to their bodies. He conducted a seminar with the fifth graders, primarily males, to educate them on this phase of their lives. He spent time during the summer going through FCA Huddle Leadership Training to become a mentor to young men, helping them discover/re-discover their faith in Christianity. He's a previous recipient of the ACC Top Six in Service Award, awarded to honor student-athletes' dedication to community service.

While we often marvel at the athletic accomplishments of student-athletes, it's important to also recognize how they impact their community as well. Kaimon Rucker is a prime example of that, as he is the perfect example of what a student-athlete should strive to be.

The eighth annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award will be presented at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas, on February 15, 2024.