As a kid growing up in Carlisle, S.C., Reggie Tucker was known as “Mama’s baby.” Even after he grew to 6-foot-1, 270 pounds and was named South Carolina’s High School Defensive Player of the Year in 1999, he was still called “Mama’s baby.”
Mama’s baby had become Mama’s big boy when he left the area to play football for Catawba College.
Saturday, he is coming back home as a man-child.
Carlisle is 20 minutes away from Presbyterian College, where the Indians travel to face the 2-1, 22nd-ranked Blue Hose.
“I guess I have to put on a little show for my hometown,” said Tucker, who is expecting a rousing welcome from friends and family.
Presbyterian was one of the schools recruiting Tucker, but after graduating from Union High School, he wanted to get away. Catawba was the right distance and it played the right defense.
“All this defense wants to do is play smashmouth football and hit hard,” he smiled.
Tucker’s career took a hiatus last season when he was redshirted, the first time since he really was Mama’s baby that he didn’t play. But coaches explained that with future pros DeVonte Peterson and Radell Lockhart playing their senior seasons on the defensive line, he should concentrate on getting better on the field and in the classroom.
“I got through it,” he said of his redshirt year. “I realize why I didn’t play and that they wanted to save a year.But Radell and DeVonte are gone and we have to move on.”
One of his strengths, according to head coach David Bennett, is his love for his mother.
“He talks to her every single night on the phone,” Bennett said.
Tucker, now a 6-foot-1, 285-pound defensive tackle, has already moved into the starting lineup and had his best game against Wingate last week.
“The defense practiced hard all week, so it seemed kind of easy during the game holding down their rushing and knowing what plays they were going to run.”
This week, Tucker hopes to be even more outstanding and there’s a very important reason why.
Mama will be watching.
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PLAYERS OF WEEK: Shawn Sanders (10 tackles, three for losses) and Shawn McBride (nine tackles and a sack) were named by the coaches as co-defensive players of the week.
Nick Means (seven catches for 89 yards and a TD)was the offensive player of the week, sharing the award with lineman Joe Nixon, who had 10 knockdown blocks.
Matt Gross, who kicked two field goals into the wind, was special teams player.
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MEAN JOE: Bennett said that one man can’t do it alone in football and Nixon is a perfect example.
The offensive tackle graded high but he was the only lineman that did as the Indians averaged two yards per carry on 47 tries.
“Joe did a wonderful job but no one else graded up there with him,” said the coach.
“We call Joe a throwback,” Bennett said of the former Clayton High star. “I saw an old roadster and told him that’s what he should drive.”
Nixon came in when All-American linemen Brian Hinson and Don Moore were at Catawba and credits them for becoming the leader this season.
“I’m a vocal person and I speak up,” said the redshirt sophomore. “Cole Beane and Demetrius Hopper are the only ones to play a lot and they’re quiet. So I took it upon myself.”
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COMING BACK: Speaking of Beane, this week will be his first action of the season. He had been suspended for breaking a team rule.
Also returning is Stevie Williams, who has been hampered with an injury.
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DAY TODAY:Quarterback Scott Sensing hit his elbow on a helmet and the hit on his funny bone has him wondering about this week’s status.
“His ring finger, middle finger and pinkie are still numb today,” Bennett said Tuesday during his press conference at Western Steer.
Luke Samples, a redshirt freshman, replaced Sensing late and led a 15-play, 52-yard drive that ran out the clock and preserved the 12-0 win over Wingate. The drive took 6:44.
Samples, from East Wilkes, was also 3-for-3 passing for 28 yards.
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I CAN’T WIN:Bennett gets grief, regardless of the outcome.
“When we beat Livingstone (55-0), everybody asked me about running up the score,” he said. “This week, I hear, ‘Y’all didn’t score enough.’”
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AROUND THE SAC:The only other games played last week saw Mars Hill defeat Newberry 23-10 and Tusculum pound Stillman 49-21.
This week, West Virginia Wesleyan goes to Newberry, Wingate visits Tusculum, North Greenville plays at Mars Hill and Lenoir-Rhyne faces Carson-Newman in Jefferson City, Tenn.
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NOTES: Catawba has won 19 straight regular season games and 13 straight in the SAC. ... The Indians are perfect when it comes to scoring inside the red zone (the opponent’s 20-yard line). They are 14-for-14. ... Catawba is sixth in two national polls, seventh in another and 10th in another. ... The last time Catawba started the season with three straight shutouts was 1934, when the Tribe allowed just six points in its first five games. ... No opponent has gone over 100 yards of total offense. ... Wingate was the first opponent to penetrate the Indian 20 but did not score. ... Tight end Mark Sintich leads all receivers with a 24.2 yards-per-catch average. ... Mike London’s preview of Catawba-Presbyterian will appear in Saturday Post.
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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4256 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com
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