Justin Cruz

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
5-11
Weight:
203
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Fleming Island, Fla.
High School:
Fleming Island

** 2012 Ball State Ray Louthen Senior Participation Award **

2012 (Sr.): Played in all 13 games, including the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg . . . ranked fifth on the team in tackles . . . season high 10 tackles at Army . . . eight tackles vs. Northern Illinois and at Toledo . . . seven tackles in his final career game at the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg . . . six tackles at Clemson . . . five tackles at Kent State and vs. Western Michigan . . . credited with two tackles for loss at Toledo and one vs. Northern Illinois.

2011 (Jr.): Played in the first two games . . . managed a season high six tackles at Indiana . . . tallied five tackles, including one tackle for loss, at South Florida . . . credited with one tackle for loss vs. the Hoosiers . . . registered four tackles at Eastern Michigan.

2010 (So): Played in all 12 games to earn second letter . . . started the final five games of the season . . . tailled a career high 12 tackles vs. Northern Illinois . . . recorded nine tackles at Toledo and at Buffalo . . . credited with tackles for loss vs. Western Michigan, at Buffalo and vs. Northern Illinois . . . managed first career forced fumble at Iowa . . . tallied first career pass breakup at Purdue plus added one at Buffalo.

2009 (Fr.): Played in all 12 games as a true freshman to earn first letter . . . made his first career start vs. Ohio . . . registered a season high five tackles at Western Michigan . . . credited with first career tackle for loss vs. Bowling Green . . . managed at least one tackle in six games . . . credited with one kickoff return for five yards at Auburn and one for 11 yards vs. Central Michigan.

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned two letters in football for Coach Neal Chipoletti . . . helped team to an 8-2 record as a senior, which set the school record for wins in a season . . . helped the team to a first ever district championship and the school’s first ever 7-0 start . . . helped team to the regional finals for the first time in school history . . . helped Fleming Island to a 16-7 mark in career . . . All-First Coast as a senior . . . all-city and all-county as a senior . . . named to northeast Florida’s Super 24 . . . managed 110 tackles, three sacks, 11 tackles for loss and three interceptions as a senior . . . part of a defense which set the school record for fewest yards allowed in a season . . . tallied 241 tackles, six sacks and four interceptions in career.

Personal: Son of Elvin and Carmen Cruz . . . born Nov. 7, 1990, in Jacksonville, N.C. . . . three brothers and one sister . . . full name is Justin Rey Cruz.

TACKLES	g	ua	a	total	tfl	pd	ff
2010	12	26	33	59	3.0	2	1
2011	7	6	13	19	2.5	0	0
2012	13	32	25	57	3.0	0	0
TOTAL	32	64	71	135	8.5	2	1

SINGLE-GAME HIGHS:
Tackles: 12, Northern Illinois, 11/20/10 (7-5)
Tackles for loss: 2.0, at No. 25 Toledo, 11/6/12 (2-0)
Fumbles forced: 1, at Iowa, 9/25/10
Pass breakups: 1, at Buffalo, 11/12/10 ; at Purdue, 9/18/10 ; at Purdue, Sep 18, 2010