[2] Ruel lettered at offensive guard for the University of Miami under head coach Fran Curci and received his B.S.

[3] Arkansas routed favored Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and Ruel moved on to a full-time position at Washington State University in Pullman under new head coach Jim Walden.

Ruel spent the next two seasons (2001–02) as the assistant offensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers.

In 2003, he took over offensive line coach duties for the Buffalo Bills before moving the New York Giants for the 2004 season.

Carroll lured Ruel away from the NFL's Giants, taking him to lunch on a sunny day in Manhattan Beach.

"[2] His players at USC included Sam Baker, Winston Justice, Ryan Kalil, Deuce Lutui, Fred Matua, Chilo Rachal, Drew Radovich, Matt Spanos, and Kyle Williams.