#55 Ian Rudzik

Redshirt Freshman | 6-1 | 229 lbs. | Ulysses, Kansas

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

• Position: Linebacker
• Previous College: None
• Projection: Second-String
• Status: On Scholarship

Ian G. Rudzik (b. March 31, 1997) is a tough, physical linebacker who will compete for time in the playing rotation in 2017, in addition to special teams work. He redshirted in 2016.

Rudzik lettered all four seasons as a running back under head coach Jason Kenny at Ulysses High School. He was rated the eighth-best player in the state of Kansas in the Class of 2016 by Rivals.com and named a three-time all-state performer by The Topeka Capital-Journal, including first-team accolades as a junior and senior.

Rudzik was named The Hutchinson News’ Defensive Player of the Year, and also earned first team all-state honors as a junior and senior from The Wichita Eagle — and in the final year, he was named one of the top 11 players in the state.

He also picked up all-area accolades all four years after helping to lead the Tigers to three straight trips to the Class 4A state playoffs.

A four-year starter who rushed for 7,164 yards and 91 touchdowns during his illustrious prep career, including 2,061 yards and 26 scores as a junior, Rudzik also recorded 26 rushing touchdowns as a sophomore and 24 as a senior.

Rudzik totaled 253 tackles in his prep career from his linebacker position, including 100-tackle campaigns in 2014 (100) and 2015 (103). He had 10 sacks in his career, including seven as a senior, and was selected to play in the 2016 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

In that game, Rudzik was named the West team’s Most Valuable Player after rushing for 22 yards on two carries, catching a touchdown pass for 23 yards and recording four tackles.

Rudzik was a high school teammate of 2017 K-State signee Harrison Creed. His father, Chance, played football at Pittsburg State, while his uncle, Chad, played at North Texas.