Zach Ruffel brings size, upside, and a blue-collar interior frame to the Hardrockers’ front
Ruffel is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive lineman from Mountain Vista who arrived at South Dakota Mines with a prep résumé built on production and versatility, including 44 tackles and six sacks in his senior season. He also brings a multi-sport background and strong field speed from track, which hints at a motor that can chase plays instead of just eating blocks. At this stage, he looks like a developmental DL with good frame potential and functional explosiveness — the kind of player who fits a program that values effort, leverage, and growth.
