University of Memphis Athletics
Jamaal Rufus Has Fun Being a Tiger
Nov 08, 2006 | Football
Nov. 8, 2006
BY: Ben Wright
Every football team needs a comedian or a tension breaker. While the Memphis Tigers appear to possess a stable of characters, the title of team "funny man" definitely belongs to senior defensive back Jamaal Rufus.
Known almost as much for his antics off the field as his play on it, the Memphis native is not shy in talking about his skills as a joker or a football player.
"Everybody knows I like to joke around," Rufus said. "That's just a part of me. On the field I rarely joke. I just try to do what I have to do. Otherwise, I love to joke and play around. I think it's something that I get from my mom."
While he may have gotten his comedic skills from his mother, according to Rufus, it was a more divine intervention that got him started on his football career.
"Everyone thought I was going to be a basketball player because I was really tall when I was little," said Rufus. "Then one day I was at church, and I saw a letter to sign up for pee-wee football."
Rufus signed up to play for a Memphis team called Raleigh Central Tigers and has never looked back. As a child, Rufus began to stand out immediately. Then in the spring of his eighth grade year, the funny man realized he might have a future as a ballplayer.
"Little league football had just ended and my high school coach was like, `Come out here and throw the ball'," said Rufus. "I picked the ball up and threw it as far as I could and he was like, `Son you might have just earned a job'."
At that time, Frayser already had a senior quarterback, but Rufus and his coaches believed that he had a chance to be something special.
As a ninth-grader, Rufus led Frayser High through what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Riding the arm of their young signal-caller the Rams managed to make the playoffs. It was the first of four consecutive trips that Frayser would make to the playoffs during his time.
Rufus was in no way just a pretty-boy quarterback. Frayser's coaches used his athleticism on defense as well, where he played strong safety and rover.
By the time he was a senior in 2003, Rufus was widely considered the top prospect in the Memphis area, and as he neared graduation the college offers began to come in. However, Rufus was torn over where to go to school, but on one recruiting trip realized how much he liked his home.
"In high school I was a Razorback fan and a Memphis Tiger fan," said Rufus. "After I went on my visit to Arkansas, I immediately realized that I wanted to go to Memphis. I just really liked my life here and I didn't want to leave. I called my dad as soon as I left Arkansas and told him I was going to stay home."
A major part of Rufus' decision to come to Memphis was the Tiger coaching staff, in particular defensive backs coach Tim Keane, who recruited Rufus and has been his position coach for the last four years.
"He's a great guy," Rufus said of Keane. "I appreciate everything he's done for me since I've been here. I love Coach Keane and Coach West. Coach West always does things to make me a better player."
The Memphis native hasn't disappointed with his production, playing every game since joining the Tiger football program. Rufus began his college career as a special teamer and back up to Wesley Smith at free safety.
At the beginning of his junior year he made the switch to cornerback, where he finally cracked the starting lineup. In 2005, Rufus finished the season in the Tiger top 10 on the team in tackles with 41 and tied for third on the squad in pass breakups with seven.
This season the senior's multi-position skills have come back into use with the drastic changes that the Tigers have made on defense. Rufus has constantly shuffled back and forth between safety and corner back. While he says that he is comfortable at both spots, Rufus was candid about which one he prefers.
"I like corner because I can manhandle receivers when they try to block me," Rufus said. "It's a lot easier when a receiver is trying to block you than when some big lineman is running at you. I wouldn't necessarily say that I don't like hitting linemen, but I'd prefer not to."
Last season when Memphis had lost its two top quarterbacks, Rufus pined to go back to the offensive side of the ball.
"I played around with it sometimes," Rufus laughed. "I told them last year that when all the quarterbacks went down, I should be the next guy in line."
Despite his hard play, Rufus still finds time to provide the team's comic relief.
"I just joke. I mainly like to trash talk with people because nobody takes me seriously anyway," he said. "Our team is full of characters. We love each other, and we have fun together. It doesn't matter where we are, we always manage to just joke with each other. The only time I really get serious is when I'm on the field."
According to the senior, it's all business back on the field and in the classroom. Rufus is set to graduate in May, and as his time at Memphis draws to an end, he has begun to sum up what he enjoys most about playing football.
"I just like playing the game. I've been doing it all my life so it's basically all I know," said Rufus. "I really like that I've had the opportunity for my Mom to see me play. I also love the fans. I think that's why I get so emotional when I'm playing."
Even though the Tigers have struggled defensively this season, Rufus' goals for both the team and himself have remained the same.
"I want us to continue to get better as a defense," he said. "I also just want to win because that's all I have been a part of since I've been here. Special teams or defense, I'll just do whatever Coach asks me to do. If it's to down a punt on the one, get my team motivated or to intercept a pass, I'll do whatever it takes."
He may be funny by nature, but Rufus has exactly the kind of selfless attitude that the Memphis Tigers will need as they search for their next win.
