Shock have been assigned James Ruffin & Chris Tucker

Wednesday October 17, 2012

 Spokane opens 2013 signing period with defensive emphasis

SPOKANE, WA (October 16, 2012) – The Shock have been assigned defensive linemen James Ruffin and Chris Tucker to the 2013 roster. Each player has agreed to a two-year deal with Spokane for the 2013 and 2014 AFL seasons.

Ruffin, a graduate of Northern Iowa, joined the Shock for his rookie season with the AFL in 2012. From the defensive line, he recorded 18 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries on the season. Prior to joining the Shock, James spent time with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals where he played in four preseason games in 2011 and was signed as a practice squad member with the Bengals for the 2010 season after making his NFL debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“There is no doubt that when healthy, Ruffin is a force to be reckoned with. He possesses all the tools to be a great defensive lineman in the AFL and with having one season under his belt, we are expecting some big things from him in 2013,” said Shock General Manager Ryan Rigmaiden.

Tucker, a former University of South Carolina Gamecock, joined the Spokane Shock for his rookie season in the AFL in 2012. Defensively, Chris recorded 8 tackles on the season with 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Chris also stepped in and played offensive guard for Spokane in one game.

“Last Season, Chris stepped up huge for our team in the later part of the season as we had to overcome multiple player injuries. His versatility and ability to play multiple positions which includes stepping in on the offensive line when in a pinch is very difficult to find in Arena Football and we’re excited about him re-joining the roster in 2013,” said Head Coach Andy Olson.

ABOUT THE SPOKANE SHOCK

The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The Shock played their first four seasons in the former af2, winning division titles in all four seasons and ArenaCups in 2006 and 2009 before joining the AFL and winning ArenaBowl XXIII in their first season. Tickets and Sponsorships are available for the 2013 Season. For more information visit our website at spokaneshock.com or call 509-242-7462. You can also follow the Shock on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.