Blake Ruffin

Played three seasons at Eastern Illinois … has two seasons remaining … started all 11 games at safety during the 2023 season... earned second team All-America honors by the Associated Press and third team All-America honors by Stats Perform... was a first team All-Big South/OVC Football Association selection at defensive back... finished year second on team with 63 tackles making 45 solo stops... had three games with double figure tackles with a high of 13 at Northwestern State which included eight solo tackles... had ten tackles in Mid-America Classic win over Illinois State... had ten tackles at Southeast Missouri... led Big South-OVC in interceptions with four including interceptions to seal wins against Illinois State and Northwestern State... had four tackles for loss and one sack with sack in season opening shutout win at Indiana State... had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as part of a defense that ranked second in the FCS in turnovers gained during the regular season... tacked on four pass break-ups... named Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Week following road win at Northwestern State … suffered season ending injury at the start of fall camp missing entire season with a medical redshirt in 2022 … appeared in all 11 games making one start at safety in the final regular season game against Murray State as a freshman in 2021... finished the year with 31 tackles including 20 solo stops... had a season high seven tackles at Austin Peay... had five tackles, all solo in final game against Murray State... had two tackles for loss with one each in win at Tennessee Tech and against Murray State... had two fumble recoveries with one at SEC member South Carolina and in final game against Murray State... had five pass break-ups on the year with three at Dayton. Played football for coach Bob Beatty at Trinity HS… part of a defensive unit that allowed just five points per game during 2020 season while holding opponents to negative three rushing yards per game and 77 passing yards per contest… named honorable mention All-State... named All-Area as a senior after helping lead team to Kentucky Class 6A State Championship with a 10-0 record... made three tackles in state championship game… as a junior helped lead team to Kentucky Class 6A State Championship as team posted a 13-2 record… team captain.