• 2011 - Spring Team Most Improved Offensive Lineman
• 2010 - 1st-Team Academic All-Big 12
• 2009 - 1st-Team Academic All-Big 12
2011 SEASON
Is gunning to win the starting job at center that was vacated after the graduation of three-year starter Tim Barnes ... Has the upper hand going into fall camp, as he's listed No. 1 on the depth chart ... Was impressive enough during the spring to win the team's most improved offensive lineman award ... Has shown the versatility to play at several spots on the line, as well ... Has 16 career games logged under his belt heading into the season, giving him the most experience of any of the non-returning starters on the offensive line.
2010 SEASON
Saw action in all 13 games in reserve action as well as on special teams units ... Continued his outstanding work in the classroom, as he won 1st-Team Academic All-Big 12 honors for the second straight season.
2009 SEASON
Started out playing guard, but moved to center where he helped serve as the primary backup to Tim Barnes ... Saw action in three games on the year.
2008 SEASON
Took a redshirt in his first year in the program ... Didn't get to practice until the tail end of the season, as he missed the majority of the year recovering from surgery to repair a foot injury he had originally suffered in his high school days.
HIGH SCHOOL
Was the first player to commit as part of the 2008 signing class, pledging his intent to attend Mizzou back on signing day in 2007 ... A highly-touted offensive line prospect who was rated by Rivals as the No. 10 overall player (any position) in the state of Missouri, as well as the nation's No. 47 offensive guard ... Scout listed him as the state's No. 10 overall prospect (any position), as well ... Named an all-midwest region defensive lineman by PrepStar ... Two-time All-State offensive lineman for nearby Jefferson City, in both 2006 and 2007 ... Helped lead his team to a district title as a junior in 2006, and to an appearance in the state championship semi-finals ... An accomplished throws man in track who won all-state honors in the shot put in 2006 and all-district honors in the shot put and discus in 2006 ... High school coach - Ted LePage, a former Tiger standout at linebacker.
PERSONAL
Parents - John & Michelle Ruth ... Is the younger brother of John Ruth, who completed his eligibility on the Tiger football team as part of the 2007 Big 12 North champions ... Has an interest in studying in MU's College of Agriculture, where he wants to pursue a major of animal science ... Lists hunting and fishing as his primary hobbies outside of football ... Said that choosing Mizzou was an easy and obvious choice for him, as he has been a lifetime an of Tiger athletics ... Grew up going to Mizzou football camps for as long as he can remember.
