Jesuit OL Ruff commits to USF

Posted Jul 3, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Jul 3, 2012 at 01:52 PM

Ever since the University of South Florida made him a scholarship offer two weeks ago, Jesuit senior offensive lineman Cameron Ruff says he has debated where he should play his college football.

The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Ruff already had offers in hand from other standout Big East schools, including Cincinnati, Syracuse and the University of Connecticut. And he also had pitches from Purdue and Iowa State. But after one last visit to the school Monday and a meeting with the coaching staff, Ruff made his decision.

He was staying home.

Ruff made his decision official Tuesday when he told Tigers assistant coach Brian McNulty during Tuesday’s weight training session at the school.

“I’ve been going back and forth about this in my head if this was the right choice the last two weeks,” Ruff said. “I’ve been around the campus more than enough and I know the players and the coaching staff well. It just felt like the right thing for me.”

And so does the idea of playing in front of family here and, of course, training and playing in the warmer weather of Tampa.

“That was definitely part of the decision,” Ruff said. “I think that (playing in a cold-weather state) would be a big adjustment for someone who’s lived here all their life.”

Ruff is also a standout onthe Tigers’ track and field team, with a personal best inthe shot put of 49 feet, 2.5 inches. He plans to compete in the event again next spring, where he aims to reach the state finals.