Evangel's Bruffett Signs Arena Football Contract

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Former Evangel University defensive back and current Crusaders assistant football coach Cam Bruffett has signed with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League for the 2015 season.

Bruffett is currently in his first season as an assistant coach at Evangel serving as cornerbacks coach and equipment coordinator. He was an All-Heart of America conference selection in each of his four years as a defensive back at Evangel. Bruffett's 14 career interceptions are tied for the second most in program history and were two shy of Evangel's all-time record. Bruffett graduated from Evangel in 2014 and was awarded last year's Physical Education Graduate of the Year.

Bruffett came to Evangel from Fair Grove where he played quarterback and defensive back for an Eagles team that made deep runs in the state playoffs including a 13-1 finish in his senior season that included an appearance in the state semifinals. He set school records at Fair Grove in all-time passing yards and all-purpose yards. In his senior year, he threw for 1,300 yards while rushing for 1,100 and he had 40 tackles with six interceptions.

"Cam has been such a big part of Evangel Football for the past six years," said head coach Brenton Illum. "It has been a great pleasure for me to watch him develop into the man that he is now as both a player and a coach. We are really proud of his new opportunity to continue to play the game that he loves."

Bruffett will report to the Cleveland Gladiators prior to the start of their season in 2015. The AFL regular season runs from March through the end of July.

Last year, the Gladiators had the best record in the Arena Football League going 17-1. They advanced the league championship game but fell in the Arena Bowl to Arizona.

Bruffett is the latest former Evangel athlete to continue his playing career beyond college. Current active professional athletes from Evangel include baseball's Blake McKnight, a minor leaguer in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, Jackson Capel, playing professional basketball in Switzerland, and Chad Gillaspy is playing professional basketball in Italy.