Nolan Rucci Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

School: Penn State

Class: Redshirt Senior

Position: Offensive Tackle

HT: 6’8

WT: 305 lbs

Background: Nolan Rucci is a specimen of an individual at the tackle position. Rucci was a consensus 5-star offensive tackle out of Lititz, Pennsylvania. He comes from a family with a deep athletic history. His grandfather played football for Syracuse and went on to play for the Baltimore Colts. His father played at Penn State and was a 2nd round pick in the draft. Nolan’s brother is currently a tight end for Wisconsin. Rucci was a first team all-state member both as a junior and a senior. He was also invited to play in the 2021 All-American Bowl. Nolan Rucci committed to Wisconsin over Clemson and Penn State.

College: Through the first two seasons that he spent at Wisconsin, Rucci did not make the impact that any were expecting. He used his redshirt in his first year and in both 2022 and 2023, he was a reserve offensive lineman, only appearing in three games each season. Before the 2024 campaign, Nolan transferred to Penn State. He appeared in all 16 games for the Nittany Lions in 2024, including 6 starts. Rucci started every game in 2025 for the Nittany Lions on his way to an All-Big 10 honorable mention selection.

Strengths: Nolan Rucci has elite size for the offensive tackle position. His length allows him to man handle defenders in the phonebooth. He overwhelms the smaller defenders on the edge and can put them in the dirt. Rucci has a powerful first strike, knocking defenders back and delaying their rush. Rucci uses his length functionally to bring defenders to a halt at the point of attack. He does not overextend himself and trusts his length to get the job done. He sits back on his anchor and lets defenders come to him before attacking once they are in striking distance.

Weaknesses: Rucci gets beat off the line far too often. He does not have the recovery ability to get back into the play once he is beat. He is not a graceful mover and seems to have heavy feet. Due to his height, his pad level is often too high. He loses the leverage battle and gets walked back into the pocket too often. Too compete at his height, Rucci needs to add functional mass and build a stronger lower half to improve his anchor. As a run blocker, Rucci struggles to get out in space and land blocks in the second level.

Conclusion: Nolan Rucci is a big offensive tackle with a strong punch. His movement skills leave much to be desired and his lack of mass impacts his ability to win consistently. He will be fighting for a roster spot at the next level and should be looked at as a depth addition.

Best Team Fits: NO, CAR, SEA

Player Comparison: Patrick Paul

Player Grade: Round 7 (39.2)