Ronnie Cruz
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Ronnie Cruz (Born: June 11, 1981) is a National Football League fullbackfor the Kansas City Chiefs. Ronnie Cruz spent two productive years at NCAA Division II Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota … Played in 22 games, rushing 440 times for 2,368 yards with 25 TDs and catching 39 passes for 375 yards with two scores … Named to both the first-team all-region and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams after playing in 11 games as a senior … Piled up 1,476 yards on 240 rushes (6.2 avg.) with 18 TDs and caught 33 passes for 316 yards (9.6 avg) with a score … Ranked eighth in Division II in scoring and 10th in rushing … Appeared in 11 games as a junior … Led the school with 200 carries for 892 rushing yards (4.5 avg.) and added six catches for 59 yards (9.8 avg.) ... Began his college career at Mendocino Community College in Ukiah, California … All-conference and all-region honoree after ranking second in the Community College League of California with 1,779 yards rushing on 264 attempts (6.7 avg.) with 14 TDs … Saw action in 14 games as a freshman, totaling 152 carries for 863 yards (5.7 avg.) with 10 scores … Majored in Sociology at Northern State. Cruz was drafted in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. His role in 2005 was mostly a backup role at halfback to Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, and backup to fullback Tony Richardson. Prior to the 2006 season, Richardson signed with the Minnesota Vikings, giving the starting fullback role to Cruz. Unfortunately, in week five, Cruz suffered a knee injury that will bench him for the entire 2006 season.