Mason Ruiz gives South Dakota a disruptive, veteran-looking presence on the defensive line
Ruiz is a **first-year starter** for South Dakota who earned **All-Missouri Valley honors** in 2024, and the clearest reason to care is his production: he led the league in **tackles for loss (17.0)** and **sacks (9.5)**, which is elite pass-rush output from the interior or edge. He looks like a fit for teams that value a high-motor, impact DL who changes protection plans; at 6-4 and 255 pounds, he brings length and disruptive upside, though the key question is whether he can keep that level of damage coming with more attention from offenses.
