Hillsdale College’s sophomore standout has firmly established himself as the top return specialist in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference after four weeks of the 2024 football season. In a close game against Findlay on Saturday, which ended in a 28-21 loss for Hillsdale, he delivered an impressive performance that earned him the G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
The player was pivotal in the game, contributing to all three of Hillsdale’s touchdowns. However, it was his remarkable 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that highlighted his achievement. This marked Hillsdale’s first kickoff return touchdown since October 16, 2021, and only the second kickoff return for a touchdown by a G-MAC player in 2024, making it the longest kick return in the conference this season.
Ruddy’s success was not a one-time occurrence; he amassed 158 total yards across five kickoff and punt returns during the game. His 93-yard return, along with a 34-yard return on the initial kickoff of the second half, helped set up one of Hillsdale’s touchdowns. With 428 yards on kickoff returns this season, he leads the G-MAC by a considerable margin and is also at the top nationally at the NCAA DII level.
In addition to his kickoff prowess, Ruddy leads the G-MAC with an average of 14 yards per punt return, proving to be a versatile asset as a wide receiver too, with 344 yards and four touchdowns from just ten receptions. His all-around contributions have made him one of the standout players in the nation, totaling 895 all-purpose yards—nearly 200 yards ahead of the next competitor at the NCAA DII level. With an impressive average of 223 yards per game, he ranks first among all players across FBS, FCS, and NCAA DII, trailing only two NCAA DIII players at this point in the season.
Ruddy and his team will be looking for their first win of the season this Saturday when they face Northwood with a kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.