Hall of Fame
A Butler, Ala., native, Reginald Ruffin was a four-year starter and three-time All-American on football teams at UNA from 1994-97. Â
He was just the second player in UNA football history to be a three-time All-American and is the only Lion to be named All-American at two different positions. He earned All-American recognition at defensive end in 1995 and 1996 and was an All-American linebacker in 1997.
He set school records for most career sacks with 34 and most sacks in a season with 11 as a freshman in 1994. His career sacks and tackles for loss total 431 yards in losses.
Ruffin played on UNA teams with a combined 43-9 record that included Gulf South Conference and NCAA Division II National Championships in 1994 and 1995. In 1994,
Ruffin was selected Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year and helped lead UNA to a 13-1 record that included the Lions’ second straight NCAA Division II National Championship.
In 1995 he was selected first-team All-Gulf South Conference, first-team CoSIDA NCAA Division II All-South Region, third-team CoSIDA NCAA Division II All-American, third-team C.M. Frank All-American and honorable mention Football Gazette All-American.He was also selected Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week vs Albany State on Sept. 2. The Lions defense led Division II in rushing and scoring defense in 1995 and was second in total defense. UNA went 14-0 in 1995 to claim its third straight GSC and Division II National Championships.
In 1996, Ruffin was selected second-team All-American by the Associated Press, CoSIDA and the Football Gazette. He was also named first-team All-Gulf South Conference and first-team CoSIDA All-South Region. He made 51 tackles with 14 quarterback pressures, nine tackles for loss of 41 yards, 9.5 sacks for 91 yards and recovered two fumbles.
Already honored as a two-time All-American on the defensive line, in 1997 Ruffin was selected first-team All-American at linebacker by the Associated Press, the Football Gazette and the American Football Coaches Association, and was a second-team All-America pick by Daktronics. He was first-team All-GSC for a third straight year and was first-team All-South Region. He made 122 total tackles, with 89 primary stops, three caused fumbles, two recovered fumbles, 17 tackles for loss of 42 yards, four sacks for 30 yards and two interceptions.
Following his playing days, he was named to the 50th Anniversary UNA Football Team for 1949-98, the UNA Team of the Decade for 1989-98 and the Gulf South Conference Team of the Decade for the 1990s.
He is a 1998 graduate of UNA and also holds a Master’s degree in Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University.
Following college he has served as a football coach at several stops before becoming defensive coordinator at Tuskegee University. At the time of his induction, he served as head football coach and Director of Athletics at Miles College.
Ruffin is the father of one son, Gabriel.
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