KAIMON'S STORY

Kaimon Rucker... born and raised in Hartwell, GA, a small lake community nestled in the woods of the “706”, where he attended elementary, middle & high schools. Throughout school, Kaimon understood the importance of being a student-athlete.  He ran track, played football and basketball all while maintaining A’s and B’s.  Some of his proudest accomplishments included posting 130 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 30 TFL and 50 pressures over his final two seasons, securing All-Region and All-State in Football, capturing Region Defensive Player of the Year in football, netting Region Champion in Track, being selected Team Captain Football/Track, Class President, National Honor Society, Leadership Hart Youth graduate and leading FCA Huddle groups.  Being active in his community was also important to Kaimon.  He served in many areas including volunteering with the local Special Olympics, actively cleaning the community as part of a youth leadership group, serving as a youth leader at Church of God of Prophecy and in the Gravity Youth Ministry of Impact Church Hartwell.                         

 

After accepting a full scholarship from Coach Mack Brown and the University of North Carolina football team, Kaimon became a Tar Heel and began playing Hybrid Edge Rusher which is a combination of Outside Linebacker and Defensive End. One the field, UNC coaches, teammates, and fans rave about his leadership, lightning-fast get-off and explosive power. He finished a stellar True Freshman season with 21 tackles, three tackles for loss and three hurries. In addition, he earned Defensive Player of the Game versus Western Carolina where he had a season-high seven tackles and two TFL. Off the field, Kaimon applies the same relentless standard of excellence earning himself a place on the 2020 – 2021 ACC Academic Honor Roll.                                      

 

 As a Freshmen, Kaimon made a huge splash on national television in his second collegiate game.  The buzz started after a big tackle for loss early in the game versus Boston College.  In what an ABC sports commentator called “the best description of a defensive end [he’s] ever heard,” he reported that UNC’s defensive line coach quoted a vivid illustration of Kaimon as “a rolling ball of butcher knives!” In that defining moment, Kaimon became Ruck the Butcher.                      

 

 Although “The Butcher” was the perfect name for Kaimon’s super aggressive ability to explode off the line of scrimmage, slice through opposing offenses, and annihilate ball carriers, the name represents a higher calling that many people do not know. Kaimon, like his favorite Bible story of David and Goliath, had to face some Goliaths of his own.  He had some hurdles, mountains and obstacles thrown in front of him.  Like David, he was overlooked and not seen as a worthy opponent by some… even being told he was not big enough, not quick enough, and not strong enough.  However, in the face of these giants… just as God gave David the courage to slay Goliath, He is also giving Kaimon the courage and passion to butcher his own.  As he continues to ignore the critics, stand firm in faith, and butcher his giants… Kaimon’s mission is to inspire others to stand with courage and slay theirs.

 

BUTCHER YOUR GIANTS!