By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University football standout Rob Ruggiero will be spending the weekend auditioning for a job.
The senior from Acton has been invited to take part in the Indianapolis Colts’ three-day rookie mini-camp that opens Friday.
Ruggiero, who transferred to BSU after playing three years at Springfield College, was one of the top defensive linemen in the nation last fall.
He made favorable impressions in a pair of postseason games in Mexico and Minnesota and had a positive workout at a pro day hosted by Harvard University in which 25 NFL teams were on hand to evaluate talent.
Now, Ruggiero gets the chance to show the Colts what he can do during five practice sessions as he bids to earn a contract.
“This is all kind of a dream right now,’’ said Ruggiero, a defensive end at BSU who will be trying out with the Colts as a linebacker. “I never thought I’d come this far, coming from a D-3 program. I’m taking it all in, but I want to make this team. I want to go out there, do everything I can do to make it happen.
“There’s going to be some real tough competition, but I know if I can go out there and do what I know I can do and have a good day, there’s no doubt in my mind I’ll make that team.’’
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Ruggiero had 44 tackles, including 231/2 for a loss of 138 yards, for the Bears. He was tied for third in the nation in tackles for a loss, was sixth with 12 sacks and was named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference defensive player of the year.
In four collegiate seasons, Ruggiero had 471/2 tackles for a loss and 22 sacks.
He earned the Jim Marshall Award as the best defensive lineman at the All-American Bowl in Minnesota and participated in the American Bowl in Mexico City.
Ruggiero, who also had interest from the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos, earned a spot on the All-New England and All-ECAC Div. 3 North first team and the Beyond Sports Network Division 3 All-America second team.
“I think he has a very good chance to turning some heads and getting signed,’’ said BSU coach Chuck Denune. “He has all the speed, strength and size to compete with the best.’’
Ruggiero played three years at Springfield and was named captain of the 2011 team. But 15 football players were involved in a fight during the spring of Ruggiero’s junior year, and he was suspended from school.
Ruggiero transferred to BSU and sat out the 2012 season before becoming an impact player for the Bears last fall.
“I was a captain, and myself and two other captains took responsibility for the incident at Springfield,’’ said Ruggiero, who leaves for Indianapolis on Thursday. “I had to sit out for a year and couldn’t play football. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me.
“It really got me fired up and gave me new motivation I hadn’t had before. Not being able to play for a year, I had a lot of time to train. I got some things together and had a really good season here at Bridgewater.
“I was just like a different person. I was hungrier and I was in better shape physically and mentally. I wasn’t satisfied with where I was. I was going to give it everything I had to play again.’’
Also taking part in the Colts’ mini-camp will be Harvard defensive lineman Nnamdi Obukwelu of Brockton, who signed a free-agent contract last weekend.