UNI's James Ruffin Named MVFC Def Player Of The Year....
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:43 am
http://unipanthers.cstv.com/sports/m-fo ... 08aaa.html
The University of Northern Iowa football team saw 15 members named to the 2008 Missouri Valley Football Conference's all-league squads, including junior defensive end James Ruffin being tabbed as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.
Ruffin (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS) racked up a team-high 15 tackles-for-loss and eight quarterback sacks to go along with his 57 total tackles. Ruffin leads a UNI defense which ranks No. 6 in the nation in scoring defense (16.15 points/game). The Panther defense also led the league in rushing defense (105.3 yards/game) and pass efficiency defense (110.69 rating). Ruffin leads the squad with three forced fumbles. Ruffin tallied a season-high two sacks in a 42-0 win over Missouri State. He recorded a season-high eight tackles to go along with two tackles-for-loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks in a 34-20 win over South Dakota State. Ruffin was also a first-team all-MVFC selection in 2007.
Ruffin becomes the sixth Panther player to win the league's top defensive award - Mark Farley (1985), William Freeney (1991, 1992), Andre Allen (1993, 1994), Adam Vogt (2001) and Brannon Carter (2007) all previously earned the same honor.
UNI's first-team selections included Ruffin, senior defensive back Darrell Lloyd, junior linebacker Josh Mahoney, senior defensive lineman Everette Pedescleaux and junior offensive lineman Austin Steichen.
The University of Northern Iowa football team saw 15 members named to the 2008 Missouri Valley Football Conference's all-league squads, including junior defensive end James Ruffin being tabbed as the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.
Ruffin (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS) racked up a team-high 15 tackles-for-loss and eight quarterback sacks to go along with his 57 total tackles. Ruffin leads a UNI defense which ranks No. 6 in the nation in scoring defense (16.15 points/game). The Panther defense also led the league in rushing defense (105.3 yards/game) and pass efficiency defense (110.69 rating). Ruffin leads the squad with three forced fumbles. Ruffin tallied a season-high two sacks in a 42-0 win over Missouri State. He recorded a season-high eight tackles to go along with two tackles-for-loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks in a 34-20 win over South Dakota State. Ruffin was also a first-team all-MVFC selection in 2007.
Ruffin becomes the sixth Panther player to win the league's top defensive award - Mark Farley (1985), William Freeney (1991, 1992), Andre Allen (1993, 1994), Adam Vogt (2001) and Brannon Carter (2007) all previously earned the same honor.
UNI's first-team selections included Ruffin, senior defensive back Darrell Lloyd, junior linebacker Josh Mahoney, senior defensive lineman Everette Pedescleaux and junior offensive lineman Austin Steichen.