NFL Draft: Jets choose Lindenhurst product Jeremy Ruckert, are thrilled to get the tight end

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jeremy Ruckert is staying home.

The Jets drafted Ruckert, a Lindenhurst native and former Ohio State tight end, with the 101st pick in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night.

Ruckert grew up a Jets fan. He watched them practice at Hofstra and went to their games, and it meant everything to him that the Jets drafted him

“It’s a dream come true,” Ruckert said during a Zoom call. “I dreamed about this since I was a little kid.”

Ruckert was home on Long Island watching the draft with family and friends. He said it was hard to put in words the reaction from his family when they found out he would be playing for the Jets.

“It was deafening once I put the hat on and once they found out who was on the other end of that call,” Ruckert said.

Ruckert was the second offensive player the Jets selected on the second day of the draft. They took Iowa State running back Breece Hall with the No. 36 pick that they acquired from the Giants on Friday night.

General manager Joe Douglas made a deal to move up two spots for Hall, making him the first running back chosen in the draft. Douglas sent the No. 38 pick, which the Jets acquired from Charlotte in the Sam Darnold deal, and 146 in the fifth round to the Giants for 36.

Hall had 1,774 scrimmage yards last year with 20 rushing touchdowns and three receiving scores. He led the FBS in rushing as a sophomore, running for 1,572 yards and 23 total touchdowns.

“I’m a three-down back, a guy that can catch the ball, make people miss, run you over and somebody that plays hard,” Hall said.

The Jets view  Hall as a good fit for Mike LaFleur’s offense, which favors dual-threat backs and a by-committee approach. He joins a backfield that will feature Michael Carter, a fourth-round pick last year. Carter and Hall are good at gaining yards after first contact. They give the Jets a nice one-two punch.

“He’s a bruiser and he can also make people miss,” Hall said. “I think I can come in and complement him really well. I can’t wait to get in there and just learn from him . . .  and ask him questions whenever I need to for him to teach me the ins and outs of being a running back for the Jets.”

The Jets re-signed Tevin Coleman, who will be part of that running-back-by-committee. The Hall pick does put the futures of La’Mical Perine and Ty Johnson in question. Perine, a fourth-round pick in 2020, would seem to be the odd man out. He had only four touches last season.

The 6-5, 250-pound Ruckert also became a Jet thanks to a trade. They acquired picks 26 and 101 from the Titans on Thursday night. The Jets chose defensive end Jermaine Johnson with 26 and then added size, toughness and versatility to the offense in Ruckert.

His offensive skills weren’t showcased that much for the Buckeyes because they were loaded with skill players, including receiver Garrett Wilson, whom the Jets took with the No. 10 pick. Ruckert was used as more of a blocker. He caught only 54 passes in his four-year college career, but 12 were for touchdowns.

The Jets loved his toughness and selfless attitude and think he will be a major asset.

“He’s an absolute bulldog in the run game,” Robert Saleh said. “He’s awesome.”

Douglas called Ruckert “a dynamic athlete” and “a dynamic weapon” and loves that he’s willing to do “the dirty work.”

Ruckert joins a tight end room that is vastly improved from a season ago. They signed C.J. Uzomah and T.J. Conklin during free agency. The Jets are excited about that group and what Ruckert can bring to it.

“You saw the flashes what he can do,” Douglas said. “You also saw the flashes at the line of scrimmage with him sticking his facemask unto a defensive end and grinding and working his tail off to try and help his teammates.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.