TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State sophomore placekicker Brandon Ruiz was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week, according to an announcement by the conference office on Monday.
Ruiz connected on all three of his field goal attempts (49, 24, 28), including the game-winning kick from 28 yards as time expired in ASU's 16-13 upset of then-No. 15 Michigan State on Saturday. Ruiz, who was also successful on one PAT attempt, scored ASU's first points of the game with a 49-yard field goal to cut Michigan State's lead to 6-3 in the third quarter. His second field goal (24 yards) early in the fourth quarter got ASU within a touchdown, 13-6, of the Spartans. In addition to the 10 points he was responsible for scoring, Ruiz also did not allow any kickoff returns with touchbacks on all four of his kickoffs.
This is the third time Ruiz has won the weekly Pac-12 special teams award. As a freshman in 2017, Ruiz earned the honor following ASU's 37-35 win over No. 25 Oregon (3-3 FGs, 4-4 PATs/game-winning 41-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining). He was recognized again for his performance in the Sun Devils' 30-10 win at Utah (3-3 FGs, 3-3 PATs). Ruiz was the first Sun Devil to win Pac-12 Player of the Week honors twice as a freshman since former placekicker Zane Gonzalez accomplished the feat in 2013.
Currently 2-0 under first-year head coach Herm Edwards, the Sun Devils, ranked No. 23 in this week's AP poll, return to action on Saturday when they play at San Diego State (7:30 p.m. PT/TV: CBS Sports Network/Radio: ESPN 620 AM) in their first road game of the year.
@ASUFOOTBALL ALL-TIME PAC-12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK BY SEASON
2018 (1)
Brandon Ruiz (ST), Sept. 10
2017 (2)
Brandon Ruiz (ST), Sept. 25
Brandon Ruiz (ST), Oct. 23
2016 (6)
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Oct. 17
Marcus Ball (D), Oct. 8
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Oct. 8
Kalen Ballage (O), Sept. 12
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Sept. 19
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Sept. 26
2015 (5)
Antonio Longino (D), Nov. 23
Antonio Longino (D), Nov. 16
Tim White (ST), Oct 19
Mike Bercovici (O), Oct. 5
Matt Haack (ST), Oct. 5
2014 (3)
Damarious Randall (D), Oct. 20
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Nov. 3
Lloyd Carrington (D), Nov. 10
2013 (7)
Alden Darby (D), Sept. 30
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Oct. 21
Taylor Kelly (O), Nov. 4
Robert Nelson (D), Nov. 18
Chris Young (D), Nov. 25
Damarious Randall (D), Dec. 2
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Dec. 2
2012 (3)
Will Sutton (D), Oct. 1
Rashad Ross (ST), Oct. 16
Brandon Magee (D), Nov. 26
2011 (2)
Shelly Lyons (D), Sept. 26
Jamal Miles (ST), Oct. 3
2010 (2)
Junior Onyeali (D), Nov. 1
Brock Osweiler (O), Nov. 28
2009 (5)
Mike Nixon (D), Sept, 5
Mike Nixon (D), Nov. 1
Jamal Miles (ST), Nov. 28
James Brooks (D), Dec. 6
Thomas Weber (ST), Dec. 6
2008 (3)
Gerald Munns (D), Sep. 6
Thomas Weber (ST), Nov. 8
Troy Nolan (D) Nov. 29
2007 (4)
Robert James (D), Sep. 1
Thomas Weber (ST), Sep. 29
Thomas Weber (ST), Oct. 6
Thomas Weber (ST), Dec. 1
2006 (1)
Jesse Ainsworth (ST), Nov. 11
2005 (4)
Dale Robnson (D), Sep. 10
Jamar Williams (D), Sep. 24
Terry Richardson (ST) Oct. 1
Rudy Carpenter (O), Oct. 29
2004 (4)
Dale Robinson (D), Sept. 11
Jamar Williams (D), Sept. 18
Jesse Ainsworth (ST), Sept. 18
Emmanuel Franklin (D), Sept. 25
2003 (1)
Andrew Walter (O), Oct. 11
2002 (5)
Hakim Hill (ST), Sept. 7
Josh Amobi (D), Oct, 12
Andrew Walter (O), Oct. 19
Mike Barth (ST), Oct. 19
Terrell Suggs (D), Oct. 26
2001 (1)
Alfred Williams (D), Oct. 2
2000 (1)
Nick Murphy (ST), Sept. 2
1999 (3)
Adam Archuleta (D), Oct. 23
J.R. Redmond (O), Nov. 6
Todd Heap (O), Nov. 27
1998 (1)
Adam Archuleta (D), Sept. 26
1997 (5)
Robert Nycz (ST), Sept. 14
Ryan Kealy (O), Oct. 11
Pat Tillman (D), Oct. 18
Ryan Kealy (O), Nov. 1
Marcus Williams (ST), Nov. 1
1996 (8)
Michael Martin (O), Sept. 7
Robert Nycz (ST), Sept. 7
Mitchell Freedman (D), Sept. 21
Pat Tillman (D), Sept. 28
Jake Plummer (O), Oct. 12
Lance Anderson (ST), Oct. 19
Terry Battle (ST), Nov. 2
Derrick Rodgers (D), Nov. 9
1995 (2)
Jake Plummer (O), Nov. 4
Brian Singleton (ST), Nov. 11
1994 (3)
Jon Baker (ST), Oct. 8
Jake Plummer (O), Oct. 29
Jon Baker (ST), Oct. 29
1993 (3)
Mario Bates (O), Oct. 30
Jon Baker (ST), Oct. 30
Dan Lucas (D), Oct. 30
1992 (3)
Arizona State Defense (D), Oct. 24
Brett Wallerstedt (D), Nov. 14
Israel Stanley (D), Nov. 21
1991 (2)
Brett Wallerstedt (D), Sept. 21
Eric Guliford (ST), Nov. 23
1990 (2)
Nathan LaDuke (D), Sept. 15
Paul Justin (O), Nov. 10
1989 (2)
Paul Justin (O), Oct. 28
Ron Fair (O), Oct. 28
1988 (2)
Pail Justin (O), Oct. 22
Eric Crawford (D), Oct. 29
1987 (3)
Mike Schuh (ST), Sept. 12
Eric Allen (D), Oct. 17
Mike Schuh (ST), Oct. 31
1986 (5)
Jeff Van Raaphorst (O), Oct. 4
Scott Stephen (D), Oct. 4
Greg Clark (D), Oct. 18
Channing Williams (O), Nov. 1
Stacy Harvey (D), Nov. 1
1985 (3)
David Fulcher (D), Sept. 28
Greg Battle (D), Oct. 26
Scott Stephen (D), Nov. 9
1984 (4)
Darryl Clark (O), Sept. 29
David Fulcher (D), Sept. 29
Anthony Parker (D), Oct. 20
Jeff Van Raaphorst (O), Nov. 3
1983 (4)
Darryl Clark (O), Sept. 24
David Fulcher (D), Oct. 1
Darryl Clark (O), Oct. 15
Todd Hons (O), Oct. 15
Ruiz connected on all three of his field goal attempts (49, 24, 28), including the game-winning kick from 28 yards as time expired in ASU's 16-13 upset of then-No. 15 Michigan State on Saturday. Ruiz, who was also successful on one PAT attempt, scored ASU's first points of the game with a 49-yard field goal to cut Michigan State's lead to 6-3 in the third quarter. His second field goal (24 yards) early in the fourth quarter got ASU within a touchdown, 13-6, of the Spartans. In addition to the 10 points he was responsible for scoring, Ruiz also did not allow any kickoff returns with touchbacks on all four of his kickoffs.
This is the third time Ruiz has won the weekly Pac-12 special teams award. As a freshman in 2017, Ruiz earned the honor following ASU's 37-35 win over No. 25 Oregon (3-3 FGs, 4-4 PATs/game-winning 41-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining). He was recognized again for his performance in the Sun Devils' 30-10 win at Utah (3-3 FGs, 3-3 PATs). Ruiz was the first Sun Devil to win Pac-12 Player of the Week honors twice as a freshman since former placekicker Zane Gonzalez accomplished the feat in 2013.
Currently 2-0 under first-year head coach Herm Edwards, the Sun Devils, ranked No. 23 in this week's AP poll, return to action on Saturday when they play at San Diego State (7:30 p.m. PT/TV: CBS Sports Network/Radio: ESPN 620 AM) in their first road game of the year.
@ASUFOOTBALL ALL-TIME PAC-12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK BY SEASON
2018 (1)
Brandon Ruiz (ST), Sept. 10
2017 (2)
Brandon Ruiz (ST), Sept. 25
Brandon Ruiz (ST), Oct. 23
2016 (6)
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Oct. 17
Marcus Ball (D), Oct. 8
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Oct. 8
Kalen Ballage (O), Sept. 12
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Sept. 19
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Sept. 26
2015 (5)
Antonio Longino (D), Nov. 23
Antonio Longino (D), Nov. 16
Tim White (ST), Oct 19
Mike Bercovici (O), Oct. 5
Matt Haack (ST), Oct. 5
2014 (3)
Damarious Randall (D), Oct. 20
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Nov. 3
Lloyd Carrington (D), Nov. 10
2013 (7)
Alden Darby (D), Sept. 30
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Oct. 21
Taylor Kelly (O), Nov. 4
Robert Nelson (D), Nov. 18
Chris Young (D), Nov. 25
Damarious Randall (D), Dec. 2
Zane Gonzalez (ST), Dec. 2
2012 (3)
Will Sutton (D), Oct. 1
Rashad Ross (ST), Oct. 16
Brandon Magee (D), Nov. 26
2011 (2)
Shelly Lyons (D), Sept. 26
Jamal Miles (ST), Oct. 3
2010 (2)
Junior Onyeali (D), Nov. 1
Brock Osweiler (O), Nov. 28
2009 (5)
Mike Nixon (D), Sept, 5
Mike Nixon (D), Nov. 1
Jamal Miles (ST), Nov. 28
James Brooks (D), Dec. 6
Thomas Weber (ST), Dec. 6
2008 (3)
Gerald Munns (D), Sep. 6
Thomas Weber (ST), Nov. 8
Troy Nolan (D) Nov. 29
2007 (4)
Robert James (D), Sep. 1
Thomas Weber (ST), Sep. 29
Thomas Weber (ST), Oct. 6
Thomas Weber (ST), Dec. 1
2006 (1)
Jesse Ainsworth (ST), Nov. 11
2005 (4)
Dale Robnson (D), Sep. 10
Jamar Williams (D), Sep. 24
Terry Richardson (ST) Oct. 1
Rudy Carpenter (O), Oct. 29
2004 (4)
Dale Robinson (D), Sept. 11
Jamar Williams (D), Sept. 18
Jesse Ainsworth (ST), Sept. 18
Emmanuel Franklin (D), Sept. 25
2003 (1)
Andrew Walter (O), Oct. 11
2002 (5)
Hakim Hill (ST), Sept. 7
Josh Amobi (D), Oct, 12
Andrew Walter (O), Oct. 19
Mike Barth (ST), Oct. 19
Terrell Suggs (D), Oct. 26
2001 (1)
Alfred Williams (D), Oct. 2
2000 (1)
Nick Murphy (ST), Sept. 2
1999 (3)
Adam Archuleta (D), Oct. 23
J.R. Redmond (O), Nov. 6
Todd Heap (O), Nov. 27
1998 (1)
Adam Archuleta (D), Sept. 26
1997 (5)
Robert Nycz (ST), Sept. 14
Ryan Kealy (O), Oct. 11
Pat Tillman (D), Oct. 18
Ryan Kealy (O), Nov. 1
Marcus Williams (ST), Nov. 1
1996 (8)
Michael Martin (O), Sept. 7
Robert Nycz (ST), Sept. 7
Mitchell Freedman (D), Sept. 21
Pat Tillman (D), Sept. 28
Jake Plummer (O), Oct. 12
Lance Anderson (ST), Oct. 19
Terry Battle (ST), Nov. 2
Derrick Rodgers (D), Nov. 9
1995 (2)
Jake Plummer (O), Nov. 4
Brian Singleton (ST), Nov. 11
1994 (3)
Jon Baker (ST), Oct. 8
Jake Plummer (O), Oct. 29
Jon Baker (ST), Oct. 29
1993 (3)
Mario Bates (O), Oct. 30
Jon Baker (ST), Oct. 30
Dan Lucas (D), Oct. 30
1992 (3)
Arizona State Defense (D), Oct. 24
Brett Wallerstedt (D), Nov. 14
Israel Stanley (D), Nov. 21
1991 (2)
Brett Wallerstedt (D), Sept. 21
Eric Guliford (ST), Nov. 23
1990 (2)
Nathan LaDuke (D), Sept. 15
Paul Justin (O), Nov. 10
1989 (2)
Paul Justin (O), Oct. 28
Ron Fair (O), Oct. 28
1988 (2)
Pail Justin (O), Oct. 22
Eric Crawford (D), Oct. 29
1987 (3)
Mike Schuh (ST), Sept. 12
Eric Allen (D), Oct. 17
Mike Schuh (ST), Oct. 31
1986 (5)
Jeff Van Raaphorst (O), Oct. 4
Scott Stephen (D), Oct. 4
Greg Clark (D), Oct. 18
Channing Williams (O), Nov. 1
Stacy Harvey (D), Nov. 1
1985 (3)
David Fulcher (D), Sept. 28
Greg Battle (D), Oct. 26
Scott Stephen (D), Nov. 9
1984 (4)
Darryl Clark (O), Sept. 29
David Fulcher (D), Sept. 29
Anthony Parker (D), Oct. 20
Jeff Van Raaphorst (O), Nov. 3
1983 (4)
Darryl Clark (O), Sept. 24
David Fulcher (D), Oct. 1
Darryl Clark (O), Oct. 15
Todd Hons (O), Oct. 15