The three-year starter is part of a "royal family" of sorts and his lineage is well-known in and around Lincoln. Bo Ruud is the sixth member of the Ruud clan to play football for the Huskers.

Along with his brother and father, the Ruud's hold the rare distinction of all ranking among the top 30 career tacklers in school history. Bo Ruud finished with 216 tackles, 22nd on the NU career list. Barrett Ruud is the all-time record holder with 432 stops (2001-04). Their father, Tom, is 26th all-time with 202 tackles (1972-74).

Bo Ruud started in each of his last three seasons at Nebraska, taking over at strong-side linebacker as a senior after playing on the weak side his first three seasons. His brother, Barrett, was an All-American and three-time All-Big Twelve Conference middle linebacker and is a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tom Ruud was an All-Big Eight linebacker for the Huskers and earned academic all-conference honors twice. He was a first-round draft pick in 1975 by Buffalo and played three years for the Bills (1975-77) and two years for the Cincinnati Bengals (1978-79). Two of Bo Ruud's uncles -- Bob Martin, 1973-74-75; and John Ruud, 1978-79) -- and his great-grandfather Clarence Swanson (1918-19-20-21) all competed on the Husker gridiron.

Bo Rudd was a standout at Lincoln Southeast High School, and was Nebraska's earliest ever commitment, pledging his intention in June of 2001, 20 months before 2003 signing day. He helped the Knights to two Class A state titles. He was a two-way star, playing running back and linebacker. He rushed for 1,385 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught four passes for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Ruud scored four touchdowns in a state semifinal win over Kearney and scored the Knights' only touchdown in a 7-6 title game victory over Millard North. He had 70 total tackles, including 51 solo stops, as a senior. He was named the honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star's Super-State team and was a first-team pick as a running back. The Omaha World-Herald named him to its All-Nebraska team as a linebacker and made him the honorary captain on the defense.

Ruud made 49 tackles as a junior, and rushed for nearly 450 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also starred on Southeast's basketball team, which finished as the 2003 Class A state runnerup. He was a two-time honorable-mention All-State pick and also earned Academic All-State honors. In addition, he was a National Honor Society member.

Ruud redshirted at Nebraska in 2003, but was a part of the travel squad. He played in 11 games as a reserve weak-side linebacker in 2004, posting 17 tackles (12 solo) with a pair of pressures.

As a sophomore, he started 10 of 11 games at weak-side linebacker, taking over that spot after Steve Octavien was injured in the season opener. Ruud missed the Alamo Bowl when he suffered a broken arm in practice, finishing the year with 80 tackles (41 solo), 2 ½ sacks and 14 stops for losses. Ruud added 10 pressures, six pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble, earning All-Big Twelve Conference honorable mention.

Ruud was chosen All-Big Twelve first-team as a junior in 2006, starting 13 games. The weak-side linebacker delivered 65 tackles (36 solo), two sacks, seven stops for losses and four pressures. He picked off two passes, deflected four others and caused three fumbles, recovering two of them.

The team's Guy Chamberlain Award winner received All-Big Twelve honorable mention as a senior. He missed two games after suffering a knee sprain on the first play of the Texas A&M clash, but still finished with 54 tackles (28 solo). Both of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns, as he also knocked down three other throws and caused a pair of fumbles.

In 46 games at Nebraska, Ruud started 33 contests. He registered 216 tackles (117 solo) with 4 ½ sacks for minus-43 yards, 25 stops for losses of 84 yards and 16 quarterback pressures. He caused six fumbles and recovered two others, returning two for a total of 53 yards. He deflected 13 passes and intercepted five others for 208 yards in returns, including three touchdowns.

Positives: Has a solid build and lean and defined upper- and lower-body muscles, broad chest and room to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk to help his body mature at strong-side linebacker … Quick to key and diagnose the play and is active vs. the run, showing the functional strength to take on blockers and the hand usage to shed blocks … Uses his hands effectively to control and reroute tight ends and short-area receivers … Instinctive player with good vision and shows good tackling form, using his hands effectively to take on, shed blocks and make the play … Has a decent change of direction, showing a nice spring in his step and while not quick-twitched, he does have enough of a lateral flow to the ball … Opens his hips properly and is fluid in his pass drops, staying low in his turn-and-go action … Doesn't always play with leverage to contain vs. plays directed at him, but has enough chase speed to pursue plays away from his territory, as he can sift through trash quickly … Shows the initial first step as a blitzer to generate decent backside pursuit, but needs to improve his strength to be more effective with his inside gap responsibilities … Stays close to the tight end and runs with acceleration in man coverage … Not a natural mover in pass coverage with sudden change-of-direction agility, but can plant and drive cleanly in transition and close on plays in front of him … His vision and awareness let him get a good jump on the ball and he does a decent job breaking down in space … Takes good angles shortening his path to the ballcarrier and while he might bite the runner's ankles at times, he has the hand strength to hold on until help arrives … Has good hip snap and arm extension, timing his leaps well to compete for jump balls … Catches the ball cleanly and runs with a good stride on interception returns … More of a blitzer than a pass rusher, but does have a nice spin move to slip off blocks.

Negatives: Has good straight-line quickness, but struggles to redirect, showing some hip stiffness when attempting to change direction … Will lose leverage on inside run plays when he leads with the wrong shoulder … His lack of bulk causes him to get engulfed by the larger blockers and while he needs to add more weight, it could impact his timed speed … Needs to use his hands better when attempting to chase and drag down the ballcarriers (can grab, but lacks the strength to jerk to the ground, needing help to complete the play) … Good wrap-up tackler, but needs to play under control more, as he tends to over pursue … Gets a little out of control in his backside pursuit, causing him to miss some tackles behind the line of scrimmage … Moves well when covering, but needs to show better sideline range, as he has a tough time weeding through traffic … Can control the tight end and mirror his moves in the short area, but was rarely asked to drop back in zone coverage until shifting to the strong-side as a senior … Flashes a good spin move, but his swim moves are negated by his short-arm approach (needs to extend his arms better to stave off blockers trying to latch on to his jersey) … Has good speed to mirror short-area receivers, but is sluggish redirecting and lacks the second gear to trail on deep routes.. Might still be nursing a knee injury he suffered late in the year.

Compares To: MATT STEWART-Arizona … Ruud has potential to contribute to a roster, due to his ability to play both outside linebacker positions, but like Stewart, he is best served in a reserve role. He is not explosive enough to be a pass rusher from the weak side and lacks the bulk and brute strength to generate punishing tackles on the strong side. He comes from a family deep in football tradition, but based on not being invited to any bowl games or the NFL Combine, scouts clearly view him as the "runt of the litter" who needs to bulk up and have a great training camp in order to secure a roster spot. If he does that, Ruud is capable of contributing.

2005: Did not play in the Alamo Bowl (12/28) vs. Michigan after suffering a broken arm in practice.

2007: Suffered a left knee sprain on the first play from scrimmage, missing the rest of the Texas A&M game (10/20) and then sat out the next two contests vs. Texas (10/27) and Kansas (11/03).

Campus: 4.6 in the 40-yard dash … 1.53 10-yard dash … 2.61 20-yard dash … 4.71 20-yard shuttle … 7.3 three-cone drill … 32 ½-inch vertical jump … 9'10" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 18 times.

Attended Southeast (Lincoln, Neb.) High School, where he helped the Knights to two Class A state titles … Was a two-way star, playing running back and linebacker … Rushed for 1,385 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught four passes for 125 yards and a pair of scores … Had four touchdowns in a state semifinal win over Kearney and scored the Knights' only touchdown in a 7-6 title game victory over Millard North … Recorded 70 total tackles, including 51 solo stops, as a senior … Named the honorary captain of the Lincoln Journal Star's Super-State team and was a first-team pick as a running back … The Omaha World-Herald named him to its All-Nebraska team as a linebacker and made him the honorary captain on the defense … Made 49 tackles as a junior, and rushed for nearly 450 yards and scored six touchdowns … Also starred on Southeast's basketball team, which finished as the 2003 Class A state runner-up … Two-time honorable-mention All-State pick and also earned Academic All-State honors … In addition, he was a National Honor Society member.

Graduated in December, 2007 with a degree in Business Administration … Four-time member of the Big Twelve Commissioner's Honor Roll … Volunteered with local hospital visits, American Education Week and the Lincoln Midget football league … Son of Tom and the late Jaime Ruud … His family has a long history with the Husker football program. In addition to his brother Barrett's success as a Husker, Bo's father, Tom, played linebacker for the Huskers (1972-73-74), and earned All-Big Eight honors. Tom spent five seasons in the NFL with Buffalo and Cincinnati, while Barrett is entering his fourth season with Tampa Bay … Bo's uncles (Bob Martin, 1973-74-75; and John Ruud, 1978-79) and his great-grandfather Clarence Swanson (1918-19-20-21) also played for Nebraska … Bo's cousin, Jay Martin, will join the Huskers as a walk-on this fall … Born 9/02/84 … Resides in Lincoln, Nebraska.