TAMPA, Fla. – Fortunately, roommates De’Shawn Rucker and Kajuan Banks do not have to tear into each other when it comes to household chores.
“We don’t have to tell one another to take out the trash,” said Rucker. “We know when to take it out and either of us will do it.”
Indeed, keeping the living space nice and tidy is a good thing.
“We’re not slobs, but I would say Ruck is neater,” said Banks.
How about food? Is one roommate hooked on something the other can’t stand?
“No, we like a lot of the same foods,” said Banks. “So, instead of arguing over what to eat, it’s like do you want go here or do you want to go there.”
“Wingstop often wins out,” said Rucker.
The two played multiple sports together in middle school and they played in the same defensive backfield at Godby High in Tallahassee. Rucker is a year ahead of Banks.
“We weren’t tight at first, but once we got into sports, we got to know each other and connect from there,” said Rucker, who attracted the attention of Army and Air Force, among others, for his track and field exploits at Godby. “High school is when (our friendship) took off. He was at corner on the varsity in tenth grade and I was at safety and we were on the same side most of the time. So, we had that communication and chemistry through high school.”
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After going their separate ways to college, the pals reunited at USF when they transferred within about a week of each other last winter.
Rucker went to Tennessee where he was recruited by Jeremy Pruitt. By the time he arrived in Knoxville, Josh Heupel had left UCF to take over the Volunteers. Rucker remained true to his commitment and stuck with Rocky Top and a new staff that included offensive coordinator Alex Golesh.
“The first coach I actually met was Golesh,” said Rucker, who played in 24 games over three seasons with the Vols. “We have been tight ever since. Even though he was with the offense and I was on defense, he saw me play and knew what I could do.”
It was a relationship that led to Rucker reuniting with Golesh, who accepted the head coaching position at USF in December 2022. A year later, Rucker entered the portal.
“Once I decided to enter the portal, he was the first to call,” said Rucker, who forced a fumble in the win last week at Southern Miss and whose 17 tackles are second on the team. “He said there was an opportunity for me here and that he knew I could make the best of it.”
It is an opportunity Golesh is glad Rucker took advantage of.
“His humility and his gratefulness to be here is awesome,” said the second-year coach. “It’s like a refreshing moment every time you get to talk to him. It’s the Ruck I remember when he was a freshman. He was happy, confident and excited every day, which is what you see now.”
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That pretty much sums up how Banks has felt since arriving at USF. He was not thrilled, though, when Pruitt and his staff were shown the door at Tennessee. Even with his buddy having remained true to the Vols, Banks looked elsewhere and hooked on at South Carolina. Alas, things eventually changed.
“Yeah, it did,” Banks replied when asked if Rucker’s commitment to USF played a role in his decision. “We had played together and he’s like, well, you might as well (come to USF.) I liked the coaching staff and the way they approached me in the portal. That played a big part, too.”
A relationship that began a decade ago is flourishing at USF, where both are communications majors. Banks, who played 25 games in his two seasons with the Gamecocks and has a pair of sacks this year, is well aware of the many doors that can open within his chosen field of study. He may want to get into sports media at some point. Regardless, maintaining an academic edge is paramount.
“My mom, uncle and grandmother instilled a lot in me,” said the academic honor roll recipient as a freshman at South Carolina in 2022. “I always liked to get good grades in elementary school and my family pushed that real hard when I was young. It has carried on from there.”
Rucker, who had a career-high 10 tackles at Alabama, may want to get into the medical field as well communications.
“I like recruiting and working with athletes,” he said. “I went through that, so I think I could help. I also like working with the body, so I may want to be a chiropractor or something like that.”
That day can wait, though. After all, they are having the time of their lives lining up in the same defensive backfield just as they did at Godby.
“It feels like high school once again,” said Rucker.
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