Justin Ruffin, Jr.

Position:
Wide Receiver
Height:
5-9
Weight:
160
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Buckner, Ky.
High School:
Christian Academy of Louisville/Oldham H.S.
Twitter:
@JRuff2024

2025

As a true freshman wide receiver, saw action in 12 of 13 games … Listed as a backup wide receiver and punt returner and starting kickoff returner on the depth chart … Saw action primarily on special teams in the return game but also played wide receiver … Concluded the season with seven receptions for 63 yards with a long of 20 yards, one rushing attempt for six yards, and three kickoff returns for 68 yards with a long of 25 … Totaled 137 all-purpose yards on the year (6 rushing, 63 receiving, 68 on kickoff returns) … Finished with a career-high 47 all-purpose yards, returned two kickoffs for 47 yards with a career-long 25 yarder at the GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Northwestern (12/26) … Made one tackle vs. Massachusetts (10/25) … Had a rushing attempt for six yards and returned his first career kickoff for 21 yards at Bowling Green (10/18) … Caught one pass for a career-long 21 yards at Akron (10/4) … Finished with two receptions for a career-high 23 yards with a long reception of 18 at Michigan (9/13) … Finished with a career-high four receptions for 19 yards at Pittsburgh (9/6) … Made debut in season opener at San Jose State (8/29) … Enrolled at Central Michigan in January 2025.

HIGH SCHOOL

A June 2024 graduate of the Christian Academy of Louisville, where he played two years of varsity football for head coach Thomas Cantwell … Two-time All-State honoree as a defensive back … Two-time Louisville Football Coaches Association All-Area honoree … Two-time All-District athlete as a receiver, defensive back, punt returner, and kickoff returner … Named First Team All-Area by the Louisville Courier-Journal … Earned Prep Red Zone All-State honors … Played both wide receiver and defensive back for the Centurions … Led the Centurions to a 29-1 combined record and back-to-back KHSAA Class 3A state football championships in his two seasons at CAL … As a senior, caught 86 passes for 1,379 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense, and also had 26 tackles, including two for losses and two interceptions on defense … Led the Centurions to a 14-1 overall record and second straight Class 3A state title with a 41-16 win over Bell County in the state championship game … As a junior, caught 38 passes for 735 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing two times for 30 yards, returned two punts for a touchdown and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and finished with 12 tackles on the defensive side of the ball … Guided Christian Academy to a perfect 15-0 record and Class 3-A state championship victory … Played at Oldham County as a sophomore … At Oldham, caught 27 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a touchdown, and added 12 tackles, including one tackle for a loss on the defensive side of the ball … Rated a two-star recruit by Rivals.com.

PERSONAL

Born Justin Ruffin Jr. on April 22, 2006 … Son of Justin and Erica Ruffin … One of three brothers: Jayson and Joshua … Father Justin Ruffin, Sr., is the associate athletic director for academic services at Louisville … Recruited by a variety of schools including Army, Air Force, Ball State, Fordham, Furman, Lafayette, Lehigh, Wofford, Appalachian State, James Madison, Louisville, and South Florida.