Bo Ruud
Encyclopedia
Bo Ruud is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the New England Patriots
in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Nebraska
.
Ruud has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
. He is the younger brother of NFL linebacker Barrett Ruud
, as well as the son of former NFL linebacker Tom Ruud
.
at Lincoln Southeast High School
. Ruud was a standout at Lincoln Southeast, and was Nebraska's earliest ever commitment, pledging his intention in June 2001, 20 months before 2003 signing day. He had a standout prep career, helping the Knights to two Class A state titles. He was a two-way star, playing running back and linebacker. Ruud rushed for 1,385 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught four passes for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Ruud scored four touchdowns in a state semifinal win over Kearney and scored the Knights’ only touchdown in a 7-6 title game victory over Millard North. He had 70 total tackles, including 51 solo stops, as a senior. Ruud was named the honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star’s Super-State team and was a first-team pick as a running back. The Omaha World-Herald named him to its All-Nebraska team as a linebacker and made him the honorary captain on the defense.
Ruud made 49 tackles as a junior, and rushed for nearly 450 yards and scored six touchdowns. Ruud also starred on Southeast’s basketball team, which finished as the 2003 Class A state runner-up. He was a two-time honorable-mention all-state pick and earned academic all-state honors, and was a National Honor Society member.
Ruud started 13 games at weakside linebacker in 2006, and earned First-team All-Big 12 honors from the league coaches. He tied for fourth on the team with 65 tackles and made seven tackles for loss helping Nebraska rank among the Big 12 leaders in scoring defense and rushing defense. Ruud also had two sacks, two interceptions, a team-high three forced fumbles and also recovered a pair of fumbles. Ruud earned the starting job his sophomore season of 2005 and earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors. He made 80 tackles and tied for third on the team with 14 tackles for loss. In 2004 he was a redshirt freshman and he played in all 11 games and finished with 17 total tackles, including 12 solo stops. In 2003 he was a redshirt.
A business administration major, Ruud was a two-time Second-team academic All-Big 12 selection and a four-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. He was one of 20 Huskers to graduate in December, 2007.
. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve
.
The Patriots waived Ruud on April 29, 2009.
on April 30, 2009. He was waived by the team on August 17.
on August 24, 2009. The move reunited him with older brother, former college teammate and Buccaneers starting linebacker Barrett Ruud
. He was waived by the Buccaneers on September 5, 2009.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
.
Ruud has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He is the younger brother of NFL linebacker Barrett Ruud
Barrett Ruud
Barrett James Ruud is an American football linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
, as well as the son of former NFL linebacker Tom Ruud
Tom Ruud
Thomas Robert "Tom" Ruud is a former professional football player, a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. At 6'3" 223 lb, he played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1972-74. At the 1975 NFL Draft, Ruud was selected in the first round by the...
.
Early years
He played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Lincoln Southeast High School
Lincoln Southeast High School
Lincoln Southeast High School is a public secondary-education school located in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. It is part of the Lincoln Public Schools school district. Opening September 25, 1955 under the direction of Principal Hazel G. Scott with an enrollment of 652 students in grades 7-12, Southeast...
. Ruud was a standout at Lincoln Southeast, and was Nebraska's earliest ever commitment, pledging his intention in June 2001, 20 months before 2003 signing day. He had a standout prep career, helping the Knights to two Class A state titles. He was a two-way star, playing running back and linebacker. Ruud rushed for 1,385 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught four passes for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Ruud scored four touchdowns in a state semifinal win over Kearney and scored the Knights’ only touchdown in a 7-6 title game victory over Millard North. He had 70 total tackles, including 51 solo stops, as a senior. Ruud was named the honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star’s Super-State team and was a first-team pick as a running back. The Omaha World-Herald named him to its All-Nebraska team as a linebacker and made him the honorary captain on the defense.
Ruud made 49 tackles as a junior, and rushed for nearly 450 yards and scored six touchdowns. Ruud also starred on Southeast’s basketball team, which finished as the 2003 Class A state runner-up. He was a two-time honorable-mention all-state pick and earned academic all-state honors, and was a National Honor Society member.
College career
Ruud was a four-year letterman, finished his college career in 2007. He was a three-year starter. He totaled 216 career tackles rank 22nd on the Nebraska career chart and finished with six career fumbles caused, four fumble recoveries and five interceptions. Ruud lined up as the weakside linebacker for his first three years, before switching to the strongside spot as a senior. He played in and started 10 games and made 54 tackles, including 28 solo stops. He also added four tackles for loss and caused a pair of fumbles.Ruud started 13 games at weakside linebacker in 2006, and earned First-team All-Big 12 honors from the league coaches. He tied for fourth on the team with 65 tackles and made seven tackles for loss helping Nebraska rank among the Big 12 leaders in scoring defense and rushing defense. Ruud also had two sacks, two interceptions, a team-high three forced fumbles and also recovered a pair of fumbles. Ruud earned the starting job his sophomore season of 2005 and earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors. He made 80 tackles and tied for third on the team with 14 tackles for loss. In 2004 he was a redshirt freshman and he played in all 11 games and finished with 17 total tackles, including 12 solo stops. In 2003 he was a redshirt.
A business administration major, Ruud was a two-time Second-team academic All-Big 12 selection and a four-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. He was one of 20 Huskers to graduate in December, 2007.
New England Patriots
Ruud was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round (197th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
.
The Patriots waived Ruud on April 29, 2009.
Cleveland Browns
Ruud was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on April 30, 2009. He was waived by the team on August 17.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ruud was signed by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
on August 24, 2009. The move reunited him with older brother, former college teammate and Buccaneers starting linebacker Barrett Ruud
Barrett Ruud
Barrett James Ruud is an American football linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
. He was waived by the Buccaneers on September 5, 2009.