Barrett Ruud played LB for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2001-2004.
He posted 432 total tackles, a pick, and 7 forced fumbles over college career.
Selected in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Finally broke into the starting lineup full time in 2007.
Had 4 straight seasons of 100+ tackles from 2007-2010.
Best season came in 2009, with 142 total tackles, 1 forced fumble and 7 pass deflections.
Signed with the Titans in 2011, but finished season on IR after 9 games.
In 2012, signed with the Seahawks, but was later traded to Saints.
After Saints cut Barrett, he found a home on the Texans who were desperately thin at LB.
As a depth move, Ruud came off the bench for 16 tackles, a sack and 2 pass deflections.
Retired after the 2012 season, Ruud coached LBs with the Huskers from 2018-2022.
Score 2010, #275Score 2009, #280
NOTES:
Yeah so I was eager to get Barrett since he had a short stint on the Texans way back in 2012. The team was at the height of its power and he really helped out any way he could. My friend Lance got him first and passed along the info to me, so I went ahead and hit him up.
CARDS: Score 2009, Upper Deck Football Legends 2009 A, Upper Deck Football Legends 2008 B ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Work SENT: 1/13 RECEIVED: 2/7 (25 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
A 4th round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2008.
Tashard’s college resume included 697 rushes for 3,465 yards and 28 TDs, to go along with 41 receptions for 288 yards.
Battled with fellow rookie Felix Jones to back up Marion Barber at RB.
Finished rookie year with 92 carries for 472 yards and 2 TDs.
Became firmly entrenched as the 3rd string back behind Jones and Barber in 2009, but saw workload again increase due to injuries to both of them.
Had 64 carries for 349 yards and 3 TDs- including a career high 66 tard long and a healthy 5.5 yards per carry.
Again, off the bench in 2010, Choice had 66 carries for 243 yards and 3 TDs.
In 2011, Choice dealt with nagging injuries, and after a bit of bad luck, watched DeMarco Murray supplant him on the depth chart, and ultimately make Tashard expendable.
Cut by the Cowboys, Choice spent the next two seasons as an emergency RB with the Redskins, Bills, and Colts.
Went into coaching in 2016, joining the Cowboys as an intern.
Later in 2017 was added to North Texas’ coaching staff as a graduate assistant, and then later as a RB coach.
In 2019, coached RBs at his alma mater, Georgia Tech.
Landed the RBs job at the University of Texas.
NOTES:
I took a shot at Tashard right after he was hired at the University of Texas to coach their runningbacks in 2022, which created a small frenzy of TTM activity after he signed my cards.
Long returned in time for the 2015 season, but was released in a cost saving move by the Rams.
He signed a one year contract with the Falcons.
In 2016, Jake briefly flirted with Baltimore, but ended up in Minnesota.
He’d tear his Achilles in week 10 ending his season.
Long retired during the 2017 offseason.
NOTES:
I had been meaning to get back to Jake for a while after getting a freebee back in 2014. I think I’d been kicking the tires on him for 3 to 4 years, so it makes sense he’s the first calendar success of 2023.
These Upper Deck cards- meh- they’re okay, but they were better than the junk that was designed for the ’08 season. The Score ’09 was definitely a set need, while the Topps 2014 was the slow evolution of the product from I think 2011. The design started resembling more of a fender, but eh I’m sorta okay with that. I thought it’d be nice to get one of him in his Rams attire- even if it is St. Louis.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
