Deante Ruffin brings dual-threat upside and real freshman flashes to Kent State
Ruffin is a 6-foot-1, 215-pound redshirt freshman QB for Kent State who already showed a clean, efficient cameo in the 2025 season: 2-of-3 passing for 44 yards with no turnovers and 6 rushing yards in his lone game appearance.[1][11][14] The appeal is obvious—he arrives with a history of production from high school (1,400+ passing yards, 476 rushing yards, 25 total TDs) and a frame that suggests he can absorb contact while attacking both through the air and on the ground.[1][6] He looks like a developmental dual-threat with some juice, especially if Kent State wants an athlete who can create outside structure rather than just manage the offense.[1][7]
