Ronnie Cruz

Last updated

Ronnie Cruz
No. 42
Position: Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1981-06-11) June 11, 1981 (age 43)
Lakeport, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:244 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school: Clear Lake High School (CA)
College: Northern State University
Undrafted: 2004
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-NSIC (2003)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:19
Rushing average:3.8
Receiving yards:35
Receiving average:11.7
Career TDs:0

Ronnie Valentin Cruz (born June 11, 1981) is a former American football fullback. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Northern State University.

Contents

Cruz has also been a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

Early life

Ronnie Cruz was named football MVP and student-athlete of the year at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport, California. He ranked second in rushing in the state of California. Ronnie Cruz was once considered a tuba prodigy.

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 14 touchdowns.

He played two years at Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota. As a Junior Cruz led the school with 200 carries for 892 rushing yards and seven touchdowns along with six receptions for 59 yards with one score. 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. Cruz was named to the first-team All-Region and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams as a senior. He ranked eighth in scoring and 10th in rushing his senior year.

Career college statistics

YearTeamGamesCarriesYardsYards per carryTouchdownsReceptionsRec. yardsRec. TDs
2000 MC 141528635.6810N/AN/AN/A
2001 MC 142641,7796.7414N/AN/AN/A
2002 NSU 102008924.4676591
2003 NSU 112401,4766.1518333161
Career498565,0105.7649393752

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

His role with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005 was mostly a backup role at halfback to Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, and backup to fullback Tony Richardson. Prior to the 2006 season, Richardson signed with the Minnesota Vikings, giving the starting fullback role to Cruz. In week six, [1] Cruz suffered a knee injury that benched him for the entire 2006 season. The Chiefs released Cruz at the beginning of the 2007 season.

Dallas Cowboys

On January 18, 2008, Cruz signed with the Dallas Cowboys. He quickly worked his way to second on the depth chart as a fullback, but a shoulder injury in a preseason game ended his season. He was later released by the Cowboys with an injury settlement. [2]

Florida Tuskers

Cruz was drafted by the Florida Tuskers on the UFL Premiere Season Draft in 2009 and signed with the team on August 17. [3]

Personal life

Cruz is now a bail bondsman and fugitive recovery agent. He now owns and operates Cruz Out of Jail Bail Bonds with two locations: one office in Sacramento, CA and the other in Lakeport, CA. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Richardson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1971)

Antonio Richardson is an American former football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1994. He played college football at Auburn University.

Ryan Matthew Neufeld is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. He also was a member of the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe, the Florida Tuskers and Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League. He played college football at UCLA.

Alan Cardell Ricard is a former American football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

David Lang was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Northern Arizona University.

Richard Darnoll Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy Morris</span> American football player and coach (born 1977)

Samuel Morris III is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Tech University.

Aveion Marquel Cason is a former American football running back and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Florida Tuskers in the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Illinois State University.

Walter Benton Garrison was an American professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Darrin Milo Nelson is an American former professional football player who was a running back and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, earning second-team All-American honors in 1978.

Blair Lamar Thomas is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, earning first-team All-American honors in 1989.

Thomas Lee Agee is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Auburn University. He won Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII with the Cowboys back-to-back, beating the Buffalo Bills in both games.

John "Bucky" Powell Richardson is a former quarterback for Texas A&M University who went on to play professionally for the National Football League (NFL)'s Houston Oilers.

Robert Scott Laidlaw is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. He played college football at Stanford University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Cone (American football)</span> American football player (1926–2021)

Fred Cone was an American professional football player who was a fullback and placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

John Alan Williams is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. He also was a member of the Michigan Panthers and Oakland Invaders in the United States Football League. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin.

Christopher J. Greisen is a former American football quarterback who played professionally the National Football League (NFL) for the Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys and current coach for West De Pere High School. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He also was a member of the Rhein Fire, Green Bay Blizzard, Dallas Desperados, Georgia Force, Florida Tuskers, Milwaukee Iron, and Virginia Destroyers. He played college football at Northwest Missouri State University.

Derrick Luther Gainer is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Raiders, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Florida A&M University. He won two Super Bowls back-to-back with Dallas over the Buffalo Bills.

Nicky Sualua is a former American football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Ohio State University.

Lonyae Durell Miller Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens. He played college football at Fresno State University.

Donald George Abbey is a former American football fullback who played college football at Penn State University. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft.

References

  1. profootballreference.com
  2. "Dallas Cowboys cut five players". Blogging The Boys. August 25, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  3. "United Football League Signs 21 Players to Florida Tuskers' Roster". PR Newswire . August 17, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  4. "Former county NFL player to open bail bond business". www.record-bee.com. May 6, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.