- Ronnie Cruz
Infobox NFLactive
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentpositionplain=Fullback
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|6|11
birthplace=Lakeport, California
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=237
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Kansas City Chiefs
college=Northern State
undraftedyear=2004
pastteams=
*Kansas City Chiefs (2004-2006)
*Dallas Cowboys (2008)*:*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
status=Active
nfl=CRU823992Ronnie Valentín Cruz (born
June 11 ,1981 inLakeport, California ) is anAmerican football fullback currently afree agent . He was originally signed by theKansas City Chiefs as anundrafted free agent in 2004. He playedcollege football at Northern State.High school career
Ronnie Valentin Cruz was named football
MVP andstudent-athlete of the year at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport, California. He ranked second in rushing in the state of California. [http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/team_biosPlayers.cfm?playerID=AD415589-B8D6-045B-CA5B1EBE28BC2C32] .College career
Ronnie Cruz began his collegiate career at Mendocino Community College in
Ukiah, California , where he was an all-conference and all-region honoree. He had 152 carries for 863 yards and 10 scores as a freshman in 14 games played.He finished his sophomore season with 264 attempts for 1,779 rushing yards with 14touchdown s.He played two years at Northern State inAberdeen, South Dakota seeing action in 22 games, rushing 440 times for 2,368 yards with 25 touchdowns. He also caught 39 passes for 375 yards with two scores. He led the school with 200 carries for 892 rushing yards as a junior along with six catches for 59 yards. Cruz was named to the first-team All-Region andNorthern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams as a senior. He played in 11 games, recording 1,476 rushing yards on 240 carries with 18 touchdowns and 33 receptions for 316 yards with one score. He ranked eighth in scoring and 10th in rushing his senior year [http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/team_biosPlayers.cfm?playerID=AD415589-B8D6-045B-CA5B1EBE28BC2C32] .Professional career
His role with the
Kansas City Chiefs in 2005 was mostly a backup role at halfback toPriest Holmes and Larry Johnson, and backup to fullback Tony Richardson. Prior to the 2006 season, Richardson signed with theMinnesota Vikings , giving the starting fullback role to Cruz. In week five, Cruz suffered a knee injury that benched him for the entire 2006 season. The Chiefs released Cruz at the beginning of the 2007 season.On
January 18 , 2008, Cruz signed with theDallas Cowboys . He was later released by the Cowboys with an injury settlement.Personal life
Ronnie plays the
tuba and was once considered a prodigy.Fact|date=March 2008
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