Shortly after the close of the NFL Draft, the Bucs reached out to undrafted free agent James Ruffin, who was a star defensive end at Northern Iowa, a two-time defensive player of the year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and a two-time Division 1-AA All American (Yeah, Joe realizes they don’t call it 1-AA anymore).  He is now a Buccaneer and will join drafted playes and other rookie free agents at a three-day minicamp in Tampa that starts tomorrow. Ruffin will then return to Northern Iowa to graduate with a degree in construction managment on May 8. Joe talked to Ruffin this morning. Here’s what he had to say:

Joe: What should Bucs fans know about you as a football player?

James Ruffin: I think I’m a type of guy that’s going to come in and know that I’m an underdog with something to prove. I’m a leader and I give 100 percent all the time. And I can bring a lot to the team as far as that kind of effort and attitude.

Joe: What kind of pass rusher are you?

Ruffin: I can mix it up a little bit. I have an inside move and an outside move. I’m relentless rushing the passer. I really can get it going.

Joe: What’s your football story? How’d you get to this point in your career?

Ruffin: Getting to Northern Iowa and moving positions a couple of times was unique. I was told I would be fullback out of high school, then the first day at Northern Iowa they moved me to linebacker. They asked me to play as a freshman as a backup linebacker, but then I said I would redshirt because I didn’t want to do that. Then they asked me to be a defensive end. At first I didn’t like it because I never played defense before. I thought I would never get over 250 pounds, and I didn’t want to be one of the fat guys.  I didn’t like it. But I gained 35 pounds that first year and got up to 274 pounds with low body fat. And then I’ve been progressing every year and learning the position. I’ve always been a coachable kid.

Joe: How was the NFL Draft for you? What were your expectations?

Ruffin: I was told I was going to go sixth or seventh round. I was sitting around with my family. That was the hardest thing. Really hard.

Joe: Who told you to expect to be drafted?

Ruffin: It was a combination of coaches, scouts and agents. They said I could slip through but they didn’t think so.

Joe: How did the Buccaneers come into play?

Ruffin: The Bucs were the one team that I had never talked to, never talked to them personally. The Bucs came out of nowhere. I was talking to Kansas City, Jacksonville, Denver and Cincinatti. I think the fact that they drafted [defensive end] Erik Lorig in the seventh round and the coach [defensive line coach Todd Wash] was telling me that there could be a couple of spots open, that’s what made Tampa Bay more attractive to me and intriguing. It’s ideal to not have a big bunch of vets in front of me.

Joe: Do you know anyone on the Buccaneers? And have you gotten advice on how to approach rookie minicamp?

Ruffin: I don’t know anyone. My [agent] also represents a couple of the Bucs’ linebackers, but I’m not sure which ones. I’ve gotten all kinds of advice. ‘Don’t count your reps; make your reps count’ was something I heard. I’ll follow that.