Tim Ruddy

NFL player


Color=#008080
fontcolor=#FF6600
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1972|4|27
Birthplace= Scranton, Pennsylvania
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Position=Center
College=Notre Dame
DraftedYear=1994
DraftedRound=2
DraftedPick=65
Career Highlights=Y
Honors=
Stats=Y
DatabaseFootball=RUDDYTIM01
PFR=
years=1994-2003
teams=Miami Dolphins
ProBowls=
HOF=
HOFYear=

Tim Ruddy (born April 27, 1972 in Scranton, Pennsylvania) but lived in Dunmore, Pennsylvania from his childhood all the way through high school. Tim Ruddy was a center for the Miami Dolphins from 1994 - 2003.

High School

* Named honorable mention All-America by "Sporting News" as a Senior
* Selected as 15th best prospect in the nation by "Atlanta Journal-Constitution"
* Earned the state championship in the shot put as a senior
* Earned two letters as two-way tackle, long snapper and kicker
* Lettered three times in track, performing in the discus and shot put
* Graduated from Dunmore High School with perfect 4.0 GPA

College

Ruddy attended The University of Notre Dame from 1990–1993. He was a four year letterman and two year starter during this time. He was selected as a second-team All-America and first-team All-Independent by "The Football News" and the Associated Press. Ruddy also posted a perfect 4.0 GPA his junior and senior years at Notre Dame. He graduated with 3.86 GPA. He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He also earned post-graduate scholarships from the NCAA and the National Football Foundation. He is also a member of Tau Beta Pi (National Engineering Honor Society).

NFL career

Ruddy was the second-round draft choice (65th overall) of Miami in 1994. Ruddy started 140 games of his 156 games played in which 16 of those non starts were his rookie year but he saw time in all of them. During most of his career he was the center for Dan Marino who has held almost every meaningful NFL passing record and is widely recognized as one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history. Marino was also a first-ballot selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

In 2001 Ruddy was named to his first and only Pro Bowl. He was originally named a second alternate, but replaced the injured Tom Nalen of the Denver Broncos. He was the first Miami center to be selected to the Pro Bowl since Hall of Fame center Dwight Stephenson in 1987. The last few years of Ruddy's career were plagued with knee problems and his playing time was limited. Ruddy was released by Miami following the 2003 season. It was rumored he talked to a few teams after his departure from Miami but didn't sign with any team.

External links

* [http://www.pafootballnews.com/AllCenturyTeams.htm The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Team]