Backup linebacker suspended indefinitely

Redshirt senior defensive end Jabari Ruffin has been suspended indefinitely for a student conduct issue, head coach Clay Helton announced on Sunday.

On Monday, his name was taken off USC’s football roster on its website. Ruffin is the third football player to be removed from the team this season after Osa Masina and Don Hill were disciplined in September for their alleged participation in a sexual assault incident.

Helton told the media on Sunday that Ruffin’s status was ambivalent.

“I don’t have a crystal ball on when or if he could return,” he said.

A backup linebacker, Ruffin has made one career start in four seasons at USC. He has appeared in six games this season — including in Saturday’s win at Arizona — and recorded two tackles.

He primarily played on special teams and on defense backed up junior Uchenna Nwosu at linebacker. On the depth chart, junior Olajuwon Tucker will take the place of Ruffin.

Ruffin was suspended for the first half of the Utah State game earlier this season after he stomped on an opponent’s groin in the season opener against Alabama. He also had to write a letter of apology.

In a statement after the September incident, Helton said there would be “zero tolerance” for Ruffin in the future.

“Jabari is a good kid who made a poor emotional decision,” Helton said at the time. “I am sorry as the head coach, [and] he is also. I know that it will not happen again.”