Never A Doubt: Michael Ruttlen Jr.

By Craig Sachson
PrincetonTigersFootball.com

Michael Ruttlen Jr. has plenty going for him. So much so, in fact, that you might think he's never doubted himself once in his life.

In two specific instances, though, Ruttlen had to put trust in front of belief. Two times, he wasn't fully sure he was ready to handle what was coming, but he didn't let that hold him back.
Thankfully for both Ruttlen and Princeton, both times he succeeded.

• • •

The first such instance came during his senior year at Mount Juliet High School in Tennessee, where Ruttlen was an all-state standout captain who recorded 212 tackles as a three-year starter. He dreamed of going to Vanderbilt University, but that offer never came. Neither did any other exciting ones in the southeast, where he hoped to continue his football career.

He received an email from Princeton one day, and a couple other messages from Ivies during the late fall, but none of it felt quite real to him, because Ruttlen never considered himself an Ivy League student. That changed when Princeton offered an official visit.

"That's when it became real to me, that I could go to the number one academic school in the country and play the sport I love," Ruttlen said. "It was like Christmas when I got all the things I sought."

He didn't feel completely comfortable as an Ivy League student, even when he actually WAS an Ivy League student. Ruttlen wasn't about to quit, even while he faced his challenges on and off the field during freshman year. He credits Jess Deutsch, Associate Director of Student-Athlete Services at Princeton, for helping him along the way, as well as teammates who set the right example.

How has it gone for Ruttlen on the academic side since then? Last week he was named a 2022 William B. Campbell Trophy semifinalist, which recognizes individuals as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for the combination of academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

"One of the things that helps the most [academically] is having the structure and schedule that football gives me," Ruttlen said. "When I'm not training, I know that time has to go to my academics."

He has won off the field.

He has won on it as well.

• • •

Ruttlen knew he was behind some talented upperclassmen in the defensive backfield during his freshman season, but he listened to his high school coach, who told him to make an impact on special teams. He played in nine games that season, then didn't see a gameday for another 22 months due to the COVID pandemic. He dedicated himself to the daily training grind, believing that one day he'd be back in the Orange and Black.

One of his mentors, Christian Brown, pulled him aside one day during that break and pointed out where he likely stood on the safety depth chart entering the 2021 season.

"He pulled me aside my sophomore year and told me that I was the next guy up, and I needed to assume the role and do it with confidence," Ruttlen said. "At the moment, I didn't see it myself, but from that conversation and ones with Trevor Forbes, it helped me a lot with building my confidence."

Once again, he took on the challenge before he fully believed he was ready for it. Through the first six games of 2021, he made 10 tackles, including three in the five-overtime win over Harvard. Something clicked after that game, though. He realized he belonged, and started to figure out how to bolster that confidence with extra film preparation. In the last four games, he recorded 19 tackles, an interception, and he earned himself an Ivy League championship ring.

He also held a clear belief that he was now a leader for this defense. He knew he needed to understand everything that was happening in front of him, so he added even more film study. That understanding and confidence has allowed him to be more vocal, a critical need for a very young defensive backfield.

"Ruttlen has been a rock for us at safety," said head coach Bob Surace. "He has a complete game, and his versatility to play the run and in pass coverage is terrific. He has been an outstanding leader not only by example but also as an excellent communicator."

Through three games this season, Princeton has the second-ranked rushing, passing and total defense in the Ivy League. It has the third-ranked scoring defense, but if you take away the six points from a fumble recovery touchdown by the Columbia defense last weekend, the Tigers would actually be tied for first in the league.

Ruttlen has put up strong performances so far, as has the rest of his teammates. There may not be any Jeremiah Tyler-type numbers on the stat sheet, but that isn't the identity of this 2022 defense.

"We harp on the idea that it takes a collective effort before every game," Ruttlen said. "Everybody acts as one and does their job. That builds our identity."

It is the identity for both the team and the senior safety — do your job, and do it with effort. His mentality and focus come straight from his father Michael.

"My dad is the biggest role model in my life," he said. "The stories he has told me and the discipline that he provided in my life, that's where my focus came from."

That focus has led this pre-med major to be selected as a captain on the field and honored for his academic success off it. He has every intention to continue leading the way after his Princeton career ends. He has already applied to three breast cancer research centers to gain a year of clinical research experience before going to medical school.

His focus may have come from his father, but those future plans were inspired by his mother Cecilia.

"My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 10," he said. "Living through that experience and seeing what she went through, I was drawn to that aspect of medicine to figure out any way I could help."

As his Princeton experience has shown, he'll do whatever it takes to get the job done. He may not always believe he's the right person for it, but history shows that he will find a way to make a positive impact.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Christian Brown

Trevor Forbes

Michael Ruttlen Jr.

Jeremiah Tyler

Princeton University Athletics

Upcoming Events

Recent Results