Bear Insider Video: Cal OL Tyson Ruffins
Former Nevada frosh offensive guard Tyson Ruffins was one of the key portal OL targets for the Bears in the offseason after starting 9 games for the Wolfpack as a true frosh, including garnering Mountain West Conference Offensive Line Player of the Week for his performance against SMU last season.
Though he enjoyed his time in Reno and the bond he built with his teammates, he also recognized that there were better opportunities for his career through the portal.
"I kind of feel like getting that experience early on has allowed me to see the game a lot better," Ruffins noted. "I feel like I can process a lot better than a lot of other freshmen that maybe might be my age at the same experience level. The camaraderie level that I built up over there, I feel like that's a really big part of being on any team, and I feel like I can bring that to Cal football and the community itself. So I'm excited to build a new brotherhood over here but I'll never forget the players I've met at Nevada."
At first, it didn’t look like it was in the cards for Ruffins to be a Bear after he committed to Stanford not long after going into the portal but ultimately the new Bear OL found a better fit at Cal after decommitting from the Cardinal and flipping to Cal.
"I love the coaches," Ruffin said. "I've talked to the coaches and we've deepened our relationship throughout my time, like in the portal. Coach famika, you know, talk to Coach Marshall Cherrington. He's a recruiter. Coach Benji. I just love the coaching staff over here a bit more. So I had to make that flip."
The 6-3/305 Ruffins played his prep ball as a 3 star recruit at Long Beach Poly, home of former Cal All-American and NFL star Desean Jackson. The former Bear was often on the sidelines while Ruffins played at Long Beach Poly and inspired him and his teammates with his regular advice and encouragement.
"He was actually on the sideline a lot," Ruffins said. "Surprisingly, he went over and took that coaching job at Delaware State. So I feel like we've already built a pretty good pipeline between Poly and Delaware. So he was always on the sidelines just encouraging us, especially our wide receivers, just like kind of giving them pointers, tips and stuff."
Though he played both right and left guard at Nevada, Ruffins will be getting looks elsewhere, too, in spring ball.
"Most likely at center," Ruffins said. "But you know, I've spoken to coach Famika. He's talked about moving me around wherever I'm needed, honestly, so I'm open to playing any of the interior spots."
So far, Ruffins has been thriving in his new strength and conditioning program at Cal and appreciates the approach new strength and conditioning coach and staff have taken with him and his teammates so far.
"It's been great," Ruffin said. “Coach Novak, he's been just getting us in shape pretty much just my hand clean's gotten a lot better, my power clean, stuff like that. You know, he's worked with me a lot more than I'm used to about with our running functions and stuff like that. I feel like it's just been a great way to just get to where I need to go. Basically, you know, getting me ready for the season."
As for spring ball being just around the corner in a little more than a week, the new Bear is looking forward to taking things to the next level with his new teammates.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know these guys better," Ruffin said. "We obviously built a relationship up to this point but nothing's ever going to compare to getting out there and sweating with the guys, just getting in the work."
Stay tuned on more from the newest Bears in days to come.
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