Romae Rucker's body of (art) work

Romae Rucker got his first tattoo when he was 13 years old.

The junior defensive back from Tampa, Fla., has since spent a lot of time in tattoo parlors, adding to his collection of ink.

Rucker, who turns 22 in late October, now has 16 tattoos, with a goal of 30.

His first

"My initials on my right shoulder.

"The big ones -- my chest, my back, my sides -- I've gotten up here at Tatmandu."

The biggest of the big

The Serenity Prayer, five lines of cursive script across his chest that read: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

"It came out like I wanted it to look in my head. That took like, all night -- four or five hours."

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He also has a cross tattoo on his back that reads "Matthew 6:9-14," a reference to the Lord's Prayer.

"I'm a Christian, so I know a little about the Bible, and I try to keep it in my life."

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Rucker also wears a tattoo to remind him of family: his sister's initials and birthdate on his right hand.

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His own birth date (Oct. 30) is represented by a tattoo of Scorpio the crab on his neck.

Why?

Rucker said many of the tattoos he adds now for one of three reasons: "Just for show, because I'm bored, or I have a good idea of a tattoo that I've got to have.

"It's something a lot of guys on the team do. It's one of those things everybody knows when someone is going to get a tattoo and wonders what he got."

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One of Rucker's favorites for show is a tattoo of two theatrical masks with the words "Laugh Now, Cry Never" that he has on his lower right side.

"It came out just how I wanted it."

Taking flack

Rucker said he has not taken much grief from coaches for his hobby.

"In high school, I was a good athlete and it was cool with the coaches what I wanted to do with my body. I had a couple teachers who said you look stupid putting those all over your body."

Rucker on the field

* A junior cornerback from Tampa, Fla., he is listed at No. 2 on the depth chart.

* In two games this season, he has made six solo tackles and assisted on two others to rank fifth on the team.

* He played in 10 games in 2005 and made 16 tackles, including three for losses. He also had four kickoff returns for 53 yards, and he recovered a fumble against Eastern Kentucky.

* He was a part-time starter in 2004 and made 11 tackles. He also had nine kick returns for 231 yards and a touchdown -- an 85-yarder against Tennessee State.