Joey Ruiz

Height:
6-1
Weight:
222
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Selma, CA
High School:
San Joaquin Memorial HS

Expected to challenge for starting nod at Buck (outside linebacker) at Cal Poly this fall after playing at the Rush position a year ago.

2019 -- Played in all 11 games with six starts at Rush linebacker ... 39 total tackles (23 solo) with 5.0 tackles for lost yardage and a half-sack (versus Eastern Washington) ... season-high seven tackles against Weber State ... one pass breakup in season finale at Northern Colorado.

2018 -- Played in eight games with starts against North Dakota State and Montana State as a sophomore ... 13 total tackles (nine solo), including career-high nine stops (six solo) versus Montana State.

2017 -- Played in just one game, the home finale against Sacramento State, as a redshirt freshman ... made two solo tackles in that contest ... made three tackles in 2018 Spring Game.

2016 -- Redshirt ... three tackles in 2017 Spring Game.

High School -- Under head coach Anthony Gaston at San Joaquin Memorial High School, Ruiz rushed for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns, caught 21 passes for 279 yards and two scores, made 111 tackles (74 solo), including seven sacks, and returned two interceptions for touchdowns as a senior ... produced six 100-yard games, including 273 yards and four touchdowns against Madera, 204 yards and three scores against Tulare Western and 192 yards and five touchdowns against Hoover ... led Panthers to a 9-4 overall mark and a runner-up finish in the CIF-Central Section Division III playoffs ... earned first-team All-County-Metro League honors, was team MVP, a scholar-athlete and team captain ... played in City-County All-Star Game ... his numbers as a junior include 32 catches for 531 yards and four touchdowns, 85 tackles (69 solo), four sacks and two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown ... a second-team all-league selection in 2014 and was named his team's defensive player of the year ... caught 12 passes as a sophomore ... four-year varsity letter winner in football ... also lettered in track and field as a junior and in baseball as a freshman ... also was recruited by Nevada, Air Force and UTEP, choosing Cal Poly "to receive a great degree, be a part of the family atmosphere and play Division I football."

Personal -- Son of Joe and Candice Ruiz ... one brother, Donovan ... wants to play football professionally or work in sales ... enjoys cooking ... born in Selma, Calif. ... majoring in communication studies with a minor in agriculture communications.