UVa freshman Ruff making transition

Buddy Ruff may not make an impact against Southern California in Virginia’s season opener, but it’s pretty clear that the true freshman nose tackle has the potential to get on the field sometime this season for the Cavaliers.
Or at least he will if he can get over that oh-so-common freshman hurdle — mastering the mental side of the game.
“It’s not the physical part, it’s the mental part that’s getting to me right now,” Ruff said. “Learning the playbook and all is kind of difficult, but I can do it.”
Rated a three-star recruit by both Scout and Rivals.com, the Norview High product is a good fit as a nose tackle in the Cavaliers’ 3-4 defense because of his space-eating size (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) and overall athletic ability (he also played high school basketball).
Ruff is also fairly well seasoned, having played in Virginia’s AAA Eastern district, which includes Lake Taylor and Maury High. The Eastern district is also in AAA’s Eastern Region, which boasts the ultra-competitive Peninsula District, home to Hampton and Phoebus among other traditional powers.
“It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t as difficult as college is now,” Ruff said of the competition level in high school. “Only time will tell [how well it prepared me for the college game].”
With 2007 starter Allen Billyk’s graduation, it appears that junior Nate Collins, who had a pair of sacks and 31 total tackles as Billyk’s primary backup last season, will move into that starting spot at nose. That, and the presence of redshirt freshman Nick Jenkins makes a redshirt year a possibility for Ruff, but, like most anyone else, the freshman wants to play as soon as possible. An injury at the top of the depth chart could speed that process.
While it’s pretty likely Ruff won’t be pressed into immediate duty, he’s certainly already made an impression on one of the guys in front of him with his approach to the game.
“He’s doing well, I like his attitude about football,” Collins said. “He’s not cocky, he’s not one of the guys that’s coming in saying ‘I’m gonna take your position.’ He’s just trying to work hard. He asks me questions all the time and that’s what you want to see, somebody taking the initiative.”
Ruff isn’t just learning from Collins and the other defensive lineman either. The Cavaliers’ experienced linebacking corps led by Clint Sintim, Antonio Appleby and Jon Copper gives the freshman another valuable resource as he learns how to properly execute in the Cavaliers’ 3-4.
“They’re real smart, they know what they’re doing and I appreciate the things that they tell me,” Ruff said.
If he keeps learning and listening, Ruff’s presence may be felt sooner rather than later.
“He has things to learn just like any other freshman,” Collins said. “If he works hard he could see some time whenever he wants to, but he’s going to be a good player here in the years to come.”