As the old cliché goes, don’t count your chickens until they hatch.
During West Virginia’s Saturday tilt against Oklahoma State, Mountaineers defensive back Malachi Ruffin thought he made a key pass breakup on Cowboys receiver Braydon Johnson.
Ruffin quickly celebrated what he thought was a big defensive stop on third down, but there was one huge problem. Johnson caught the ball and kept going for a huge gain.
It’s a bit like that Nick Young Lakers GIF where he calls the trey as the ball completely whiffs on the hoop. Ruffin didn’t quite get the look he needed on Johnson, and it caught him in a premature celebration.
— doodleBob (@313clips) November 26, 2022
Well, that’s not fun. Ruffin will no doubt be focusing more going ahead on making sure the play is made before the play is praised.
In the end, most of us couldn’t even dream of having the athleticism to not make a play like this, much less actually get a break on the ball and thwart the pass.
Despite all of that, Ruffin bounced back and majorly helped West Virginia secure the 24-19 win.
Malachi Ruffin, who was dogged for his early celebration earlier, was in pass coverage on three of those final four pass attempts from Oklahoma State. Zero completions. Win secured for #WVU.
— Chris Anderson (@CMAnderson247) November 26, 2022
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