Wes Rucker would’ve been taken aback by the overwhelming support from his colleagues and Tennessee Volunteers fans.
The longtime sportswriter was not only a fixture in the college football community by covering the Vols for the past two decades, but was also one of the few SEC insiders to “touch all the bases” on the national voting scene. Rucker and I shared space as Heisman voters, which is the ultimate honor for any journalist covering the sport.
Unfortunately, his time was cut short. Rucker was the only fatality in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 West on Thursday afternoon, according to WVLT 8 in Knoxville. He was 43.
After the news spread about Rucker’s tragic passing, the focus shifted to his family. He was survived by his wife, Lauren, and son, Henry, and was expecting another child shortly. Many took to social media to express their condolences for the Rucker family, including On3 founder Shannon Terry, ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, Outkick’s Trey Wallace and Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel.
“Hard to find the words following this tragedy, but Wes Rucker was one of a kind and always respectful,” Heupel wrote on X. “A proud husband, father and member of our media, I’ll miss seeing his familiar face throughout the year. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family.”
Hard to find the words following this tragedy, but Wes Rucker was one of a kind and always respectful. A proud husband, father and member of our media, I’ll miss seeing his familiar face throughout the year. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family.
Please support…
— Josh Heupel (@coachjoshheupel) February 20, 2026
A GoFundMe was established with donations exceeding $293,000 as of 3 p.m. ET on Friday.
“In this recent time of a job transition, Wes did not currently have a life insurance policy. All funds raised will go directly toward the ongoing needs of Lauren and the kids in this time of transition and uncertainty,” the description of the GoFundme read. “If you feel led to give, any amount will make a difference.”
Rucker spent time writing for several publications, including the Chattanooga Times Free Press and most recently at WBIR-TV in Knoxville. As previously mentioned, he was a Heisman Trophy voter, along with a Biletnikoff Trophy voter, an AP football and basketball poll voter and a contributor to the AP All-America Team and All-SEC selections.
