University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Fall Camp Feature: Sherrod Ruff
8/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss senior linebacker Sherrod Ruff is built. The 5-foot-10, 215-pounder was not always like that, though.
"I naturally picked up weight," he said. "I don't really know how it happened, but when I was in high school I was 175 and now I'm up to 220. In junior college, summers aren't mandatory and instead you're home. I just worked out by myself and happened to get bigger, faster and stronger and ended up moving to linebacker."
That says a lot for the former high school, and junior college, safety. Ruff, a native of Cordele, Ga., is the prototypical football player: a guy who worships his playbook, team meetings and most importantly, strapping on the helmet and taking the field.
"You get to be yourself," he said about why he loves being a linebacker. "When you know the playbook, you can move around before the play's happening. There's a lot of blitzing and being physical, and that's probably my favorite part of it."
Ruff last season finished third on the team with 11 TFL while leading the squad with three forced fumbles. That all came after having 24 tackles (two for loss) as a sophomore newcomer in 2015 under the previous coaching staff. He credits everyone for the breakthrough campaign.
"The biggest reason was actually me learning the playbook," he said. "When you don't know that, it's hard to play fast. When I learned it, Elijah Parker, C.J. Perry and some other seniors helped me out. I was able to play faster and make plays.
"Coach Pecoraro came in, and Coach Hopson was more defensive-oriented, so he would be in the meeting rooms with us. You learn from Hop and Pec at the same time, and that duo helped a lot."
Here's to one more year in The Rock for Ruff.
Season tickets, flex plans, and group tickets for the 2017 Golden Eagle home season are still available and can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office, weekdays, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Discounts are available for Southern Miss faculty and staff, senior citizens, military personnel, and recent Southern Miss graduates. The Golden Eagles open the 2017 season at home on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m. against SEC opponent Kentucky.
