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Childhood friends reconnect thanks to USF football

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Published  December 20, 2024 5:47pm EST
Sports
FOX 13 News

Friends reconnect at USF

Sean Barie reports

TAMPA - Ka'juan Banks and De'Shawn Rucker are perfectly fine sharing the defensive backfield for the USF football team.

"I feel like the trust and chemistry is already there," said Banks, a junior defensive back. 

That chemistry is something the two have built over the years. 

"We grew up with each other since we were 11 or 12, and now we're 19 and 20," said Rucker. 

The duo first met in elementary school and eventually became teammates in middle school. 

"He (Rucker) was like the fastest guy out there," Banks recalls. "He was the one making the plays and the leader, so everyone was following him." 

From there, Banks and Rucker would go on to shine for their high school football team in Tallahassee and planned to continue that bond at the college level. 

"I got my first offer with him on a visit together," Banks said. 

That dream, however, seemingly wasn't meant to be as Rucker would commit to Tennessee while Banks took his talents to South Carolina. 

After both of their sophomore seasons, however, a chance to play together again presented itself when both Banks and Rucker entered their names into the transfer portal. 

"We both got into the portal, and I decided to come here (USF) first," said Rucker. "That's when I looked at him (Banks) and realized we have an opportunity to play with each other again."

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As it turns out, Banks didn't take a lot of convincing to return to his home state. 

"I trust him (Rucker) so I just followed his footsteps," said Banks. 

After playing on separate college teams, the long-time friends were back on the same field together as teammates once again. 

"It's just been fun building and getting back to that bond and that brotherly love," said Banks. 

It's a brotherhood that has, so far, stood the test of time. 

"I feel like we're just going to build on this brotherhood and going to remember this when we're 50 years old," Rucker said. 

Now, with the pair back on the same field, it's also a brotherhood that will continue to do so. 

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