Cesar Ruiz

Class:
Junior
Position:
OL
Height:
6-4
Weight:
319
Hometown:
Camden, N.J.
High School:
IMG Academy

At Michigan
• Two-time All-Big Ten honoree (second team, coaches, 2019; third team, coaches, 2018; third team, media, 2019; honorable mention, media, 2018)
• Appeared in 36 games, playing offensive line in 36 games and contributing on special teams in 14 contests, with 31 career starts (five at right guard and 26 at center)
• Three-year letterman (2017-18-19)

Junior (2019)
• Started all 13 games at center to earn his third varsity letter
• Hailed as the Best Pass-Blocking center in the country by PFF College, with 447 snaps spent in pass protection and just eight pressures allowed, and none over the final five games of the season
• Named Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance at Illinois
• Named Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Notre Dame
• Recognized in Pro Football Focus College's All-Big Ten Team (center) for his performance against Maryland
• Started at center against Middle Tennessee State (Aug. 31), Army (Sept. 7), Rutgers (Sept. 28), Iowa (Oct. 5), Notre Dame (Oct. 26), Michigan State (Nov. 16), Ohio State (Nov. 30), at Wisconsin (Sept. 21), at Illinois (Oct. 12), at Penn State (Oct. 19), at Maryland (Nov. 2), at Indiana (Nov. 23), and against Alabama in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1)

Sophomore (2018)
• Started as center in all 13 games to earn his second varsity letter
• All-Big Ten selection (third team, coaches; honorable mention, media)
• Named Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Nebraska (Sept. 22)
• Earned his first career start at center at Notre Dame (Sept. 1)
• Started at center against Western Michigan (Sept. 8), SMU (Sept. 15), Nebraska (Sept. 22), at Northwestern (Sept. 29), Maryland (Oct. 6), Wisconsin (Oct. 13), at Rutgers (Nov. 10), Indiana (Nov. 17), at Ohio State (Nov. 24) anf against Florida in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (Dec. 29)

Freshman (2017)
• Appeared in 10 games along the offensive line and on special teams, with five starts at right guard and earned his first varsity letter
• Made his collegiate debut as a sixth lineman against Cincinnati (Sept. 9), and also played in that role against Air Force (Sept. 16), and Purdue (Sept. 23)
• Played solely on special teams against Penn State (Oct. 21)
• Played as an extra lineman and also contributed on special teams against Rutgers (Oct. 28)
• Earned his first career start at right guard against Minnesota (Nov. 4) and also played special teams
• Also started at right guard at Maryland (Nov. 11), Wisconsin (Nov. 18), Ohio State (Nov. 25) and in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina (Jan. 1), and contributed on special teams

Prep
• Attended IMG Academy (2017) coached by Kevin Wright
• Helped lead IMG Academy to undefeated seasons in 2015 and 2016
• As a senior, anchored an offensive line that helped the offense produce 2,000 yards through the air and 1,879 yards on the ground in 11 games

Honors and Rankings
• Played in the 2017 Under Armour All-American Game
• 247.com four-star prospect, ranked No. 44 nationally and the No.1 center
• ESPN four-star recruit, ranked No. 28 nationally and the No. 1 center
• Scout four-star recruit, rated No. 98 nationally and the No. 1 center in the south
• Rivals four-star recruit, rated No. 41 nationally and the No. 1 center
• PrepStar four-star recruit, a member of the Top 350 All-American squad and ranked as the No. 167 prospect nationally
• Second-team MaxPreps All-American pick as a senior
• USA Today All-USA Florida second-team offensive lineman as a senior
• Attended the 2016 The Opening in Beaverton, Oregon

Personal
• Cesar Ruiz was born June 14, 1999
• Attended the same high school as U-M linebacker Jordan Anthony
• Enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts

Coach Chris Partridge on Cesar Ruiz
"Cesar is one of my favorites. He is happy-go lucky, fun to be around -- just an awesome teammate. From Camden (New Jersey) to IMG (Academy), his teammates have loved him wherever he's been. He is a hard worker, and you know what's funny is we saw all these reports on the recruiting trail from defensive linemen. When they make these all-star games, they are asked about the toughest offensive linemen they faced, and everyone mentioned Cesar. We have high expectations for him, and we are excited about him. He is also from Camden, New Jersey, so he grew up with Ron Johnson and Brad Hawkins.

"It is really cool that (Cesar and Jordan) are going to be playing together. Their IMG coaches had mentioned that they are the team's two biggest leaders on offense and defense, so it's truly a cool thing. Those guys get along really well, and even though they were together two years at IMG, it's a cool thing to keep that connection."

Coach Tim Drevno on Cesar Ruiz
"I love him. I had a chance to see him play last year, and I have known Cesar for a long time. He is the kind of center we are looking for. One thing in recruiting is you're always looking for a guy that plays the center position. You always have to train the guy. He's had a lot of reps on him, and his best football is ahead of him. He's been training really well, and he is going to be an outstanding player for us."

In the Words of Latoya Shambry, Cesar's Mother
"What I would like people to know about my son is that he's a very respectful, humble, honest, and independent young man who I am a very proud of. The quality about my son that makes him so special to me are that he has made me stop and realize how precious and special life really is. I would like to see him accomplish all of his goals, which include graduating college, becoming a professional football player and giving back to his city. My son lost his father at the age of eight years old. I look at him as a blessing from God, so in my eyes the University of Michigan is getting a great young man."