Arnold Tucker
| No. 17 | |
| Date of birth | January 5, 1924 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, USA |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| College | Army |
| NFL draft |
1947 / Round: 10 / Pick: 85 (By the Chicago Bears) |
Arnold Tucker (born January 5, 1924) is a retired United States Air Force officer who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1947.
While lettering twice in football, Tucker was a part of three national championship squads (1944, 1945, 1946) on the gridiron. He earned first team all-America honors in 1946 after garnering second team laurels in 1945. After serving as Army’s starting quarterback in 1945 and 1946, Tucker finished fifth in the 1946 Heisman Trophy balloting in 1946, behind teammates Glenn Davis and Felix “Doc” Blanchard among others.
During his two years as a starter, Tucker guided the Black Knights to a combined 18-0-1 record, while Army went 27-0-1 during his three years as a team member. Tucker passed for 618 yards and nine touchdowns in 1946 and also registered a school-record eight interceptions as a defensive back that year. He still shares the single-season Academy record for interceptions and stands second on Army’s career list with 11. Tucker, who was selected to participate in the 1947 College All-star Game played in Chicago, also returned punts and kickoffs for the Black Knights.
Tucker lettered twice and served as team captain during his senior year on the basketball team.
LTC Tucker retired from the US Air Force after a distinguished career in 1974. A former University of Miami and Army star, Tucker played at Miami High in his youth and was a legend there. He won the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's best amateur athlete in 1947 and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He currently resides in the Miami area.