University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Sherrod Ruff Excelling in Final Season with Getting in Opposing Team Backfields
11/7/2018 7:42:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Getting into opposing offensive backfields has not been an issue for fifth-year senior Sherrod Ruff this season.
Ruff, who came back for one more year after getting injured early in the campaign last season, continues his ascent as one of the top linebackers for the Golden Eagles in 2018.
The Cordele, Ga., native leads the team in both tackles for loss and sacks with 10.5 and 5.0, respectively. He has notched 27 total tackles in all this fall, including 19 solo stops to go along with one forced fumble and three quarterback hurries.
Against Charlotte two weeks ago, Ruff enjoyed his coming out party for his senior campaign. He collected six tackles of which 5.5 were for loss. That total ranks as the third-best TFL total for a Golden Eagle in a single game, following only Roy Magee (Houston/2000) and T.J. Slaughter (Texas A&M/1999) who each had seven.
His displays of passion and drive on the field also has earned him a leadership role on this defense and Golden Eagle defensive coordinator Tim Billings has seen him get back to where he was improving to a year ago before his season-ending injury.
"As the season has gone – he was out last year – he just became better each week and has kicked the rust off," said Billings of Ruff's play. "The other thing he has done has become a leader again. It's hard to come in as a leader when you've sit out a year, but he has shown what he can do with being a fifth-year senior.
"The biggest thing for him besides playing really well is his leadership skills and how they developed by his good play. All of sudden he feels like he is a part of the team again and that comes from being around the guys and playing good football. They see how he is playing and they respect what he does."
Ruff ranks in the Top 10 for both categories in Conference USA, ranking No. 9 in sacks per game (0.62) and seventh in tackles for loss per game (1.31).
Ruff will help lead the Golden Eagles, who rank No. 7 national in total defense by allowing 282.5 yards per game, this weekend when they travel to historic Legend Field to face UAB in a 6:30 p.m., C-USA contest (TV – beIN sports; Radio – Southern Miss IMG Sports Network).
Ruff, who came back for one more year after getting injured early in the campaign last season, continues his ascent as one of the top linebackers for the Golden Eagles in 2018.
The Cordele, Ga., native leads the team in both tackles for loss and sacks with 10.5 and 5.0, respectively. He has notched 27 total tackles in all this fall, including 19 solo stops to go along with one forced fumble and three quarterback hurries.
Against Charlotte two weeks ago, Ruff enjoyed his coming out party for his senior campaign. He collected six tackles of which 5.5 were for loss. That total ranks as the third-best TFL total for a Golden Eagle in a single game, following only Roy Magee (Houston/2000) and T.J. Slaughter (Texas A&M/1999) who each had seven.
His displays of passion and drive on the field also has earned him a leadership role on this defense and Golden Eagle defensive coordinator Tim Billings has seen him get back to where he was improving to a year ago before his season-ending injury.
"As the season has gone – he was out last year – he just became better each week and has kicked the rust off," said Billings of Ruff's play. "The other thing he has done has become a leader again. It's hard to come in as a leader when you've sit out a year, but he has shown what he can do with being a fifth-year senior.
"The biggest thing for him besides playing really well is his leadership skills and how they developed by his good play. All of sudden he feels like he is a part of the team again and that comes from being around the guys and playing good football. They see how he is playing and they respect what he does."
Ruff ranks in the Top 10 for both categories in Conference USA, ranking No. 9 in sacks per game (0.62) and seventh in tackles for loss per game (1.31).
Ruff will help lead the Golden Eagles, who rank No. 7 national in total defense by allowing 282.5 yards per game, this weekend when they travel to historic Legend Field to face UAB in a 6:30 p.m., C-USA contest (TV – beIN sports; Radio – Southern Miss IMG Sports Network).
Players Mentioned
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