Football

One of the true leaders on the team, Jay is an experienced linebacker with outstanding numbers to build upon...expected to start at one inside linebacker position, he has post-season honors potential...has played in 31 career games with 14 starts...among returning players in the OVC, he ranks second for most tackles last season with 101...comes into his final season with 173 career tackles...vocal leader on-and-off the field...tremendous spring and expects to build upon his performance of 2014...a standout in the weight room who has increased his strength...has developed as both a player and a team leader...a smart player who studies his opponent and knows his assignments...great phuysical skills...aggressive player who runs well with good quickness and change of direction...makes all the calls on the field for the defense...strong student as well...ability to cover in space, blitz, and take on offensive linemen and backs...was in-and-out of the lineup for much of his first year due to minor injuries...kept his focus in the weight room and returned to the field healthy to make a major impact in the Golden Eagle defense each of the past two years...well-prepared every week and a consistent and sure-handed tackler...a regular on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

AT TECH (IN 2014): Jay ranked third on the team and eighth in the OVC with 101 total tackles, becoming the first trio in school history to all top the 100-tackle plateau (with Marty Jones and Austin Tallant)...won the team's Most Valuable Linebacker Award...averaged 8.4 tackles per game...had two quarterback sackes and 6.5 tackles-for-lossto rank third on the squad...forced two fumbles and recoverd one fumble...reached double figures in tackles in five games, punctuated by career-high 14 stops in win over Murray State...had 11 tackles, forced two fumbles and added a quarterback sack in Tech's win over Eastern Kentucky...posted 10 tackles each against Jacksonville State, Eastern Illinois and Chattanooga...collected two tackles-for-loss against both Tennessee State and Chattanooga...second career interception came against Eastern Illinois.

(IN 2013): Jay ranked sixth on the team and among the leagues’ Top 25 with 59 total tackles, an average of 5.4 per game...saw action in 11 games and earned two starts...posted 1.5 tackles-for-loss, caused a fumble, broke up two passes and grabbed his first career interception...opened the year with six tackles against Cumberland and made five in each of the next four games...after five more stops against Eastern Kentucky, he posted his career-high with nine tackles against Jacksonville State, and followed the next week with eight tackles at No. 2 Eastern Illinois...picked off an interception at Southeast Missouri that he returned 38 yards to set up an easy Golden Eagle touchdown.

(IN 2012): Jay played in eight games for the Golden Eagles as a true freshman...opened his career with six tackles in the season opener against Hampton...had tackles in his first five games but was in-and-out of the lineup over the final seven games of the year...made 13 total tackles.

IN HIGH SCHOOL: Jay received a lengthy list of post-season honors following his senior season for coach Shannon Williams and the Ooltewah High School Owls...named Tennessee Sports Writer's Association All-State and District 5AAA Defensive Player of the Year... versatile athlete, he lettered three years on the gridiron as well as earning all-state honors in wrestling...school record-holder for most tackles in a game (30) and most tackles in a season (171)...named his team's Defensive Player of the Year and was a Chattanooga Times Free Press first-team Best of Preps pick...helped the Owls to the second round of the TSSAA playoffs after capturing the District 5AAA title...in addition to his 171 total tackles, he also piled up 16 tackles-for-loss and had one interception (returned for touchdown), caused a fumble and recovered a fumble....started 33 consecutive games and finished with 351 total tackles.

PERSONAL: The son of Connie and the late Chuck Rudwall...full name is Jay Spoerri Rudwall... born September 20, 1994, in Tupelo, Miss... majoring in business finance.