WINNSBORO – A former Griffin standout, Orlando Ruff, who went on to play in the National Football League, showed up at the Fairfield Central High School homecoming game Friday night. To the delight of many old friends and NFL fans, Ruff spent time visiting and posing for photos before, during and after the game.
A 1994 graduate of FCHS, Ruff played for Furman University, departing as the fourth ranking player in school history with 488 career tackles. As an undrafted free agent, he was signed in 1999 by the San Diego Chargers where he played middle linebacker. While there, he was named Special Teams Player of the Year in 1999 and 2002. In the spring of 2003, he signed with the New Orleans Saints. During his tenure in New Orleans, he finished second in overall tackles for two consecutive years. He concluded his career in 2005 with the Cleveland Browns.
Pictured above is Ruff, second from right, with Kim Gray, left, Bernard Johnson, and Johnny Burbage.
