Saints select Michigan offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz in first round

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Cesar Ruiz

The New Orleans Saints selected Michigan center Cesar Ruiz at No. 24 overall Thursday night in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Ruiz was the consensus top rated interior offensive lineman in the draft.

Ruiz (6-3, 307) started at right guard as a freshman before moving to center. He is quick and a very solid run blocker. Ruiz can get low with his flexibility. Like last year’s second round choice Erik McCoy, there are questions about his reach but McCoy has erased those doubts after a strong rookie season as the starting center for New Orleans. Ruiz likely will play guard for the Saints but a move of McCoy to guard is also possible.

The Saints did not enter the draft with a second round choice, and their next scheduled selection is No. 88 overall in the third round.

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C/G Cesar Ruiz
6-4, 316
Michigan
Pennsauken, NJ
IMG Academy (Fla.)

At Michigan … three-year letterman … appeared in 36 games during his career, making 31 consecutive starting assignments to finish his career … started five games at right guard in 2017 and 26 straight at center during the 2018 and 2019 seasons … two-time All-Big Ten selection: second team (coaches, 2019) and third team (media, 2019) after earning third-team honors from the coaches in 2018 … … also contributed on PAT/field goal protection unit … enrolled at Michigan in January 2017 … declared for the 2020 NFL Draft as a junior. Junior

(2019) … earned third varsity letter … All-Big Ten second team (coaches) … All-Big Ten third team (media) … named to the watch list for the Rimington and Outland trophies … highest-graded pass blocking center in the country according to PFF College … started all 13 games at center … started his 20th career game vs. Army (Sept. 7) … made 30th career start in the regular season finale against Ohio State (Nov. 30) … started his third consecutive bowl game with the start at center against Alabama in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1). Sophomore

(2018) … earned second varsity letter … All-Big Ten third team at center (coaches) … All-Big Ten honorable mention (media) … started all 13 games at center … earned his first career start at center at Notre Dame (Sept. 1) … starting 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) and at Ohio State (Nov. 24) … made his second career start in a bowl game, lining up at center against Florida in the ChickFil-A Peach Bowl (Dec. 29). Freshman

(2017) … earned first varsity letter … played in 10 games and made five starts at right guard … saw action along the offensive line in nine contests … also contributed on field goal/PAT protection unit … made his collegiate debut as a sixth lineman against Cincinnati (Sept. 9) … played as sixth offensive lineman against Air Force (Sept. 16) and Purdue (Sept. 23) … played solely on special teams at 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 vs. Minnesota (Nov. 4) … started at right guard against Maryland (Nov. 11), Wisconsin (Nov. 18) and Ohio State (Nov. 25) … started at right guard against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl (Jan. 1).

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. 58 nationally and the No.1 center … ESPN four-star recruit, ranked No. 69 nationally and the No. 1 center … Scout four-star recruit, rated No. 100 CESAR RUIZ*** Offensive Line 6-4, 316 Pennsauken, New Jersey 51 IMG Academy (Fla.) 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 … 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, majoring in afro-american and african studies.

New Orleans Saints 2020 NFL Draft Round One Notes

  • With the 24th pick overall, New Orleans selected Michigan C/G Cesar Ruiz.
  • Ruiz is the tenth Michigan player selected by New Orleans. He is the first former Wolverine selected by the Saints since WR Adrian Arrington was picked in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
  • Ruiz is the first former Michigan player selected in the first round by New Orleans.
  • This was the fourth time in franchise history that New Orleans has selected a player with the 24th pick in the NFL Draft, joining LB Alvin Toles (1985), FB Craig Heyward (1988) and DE Cameron Jordan (2011).
  • Davenport is the 12th offensive lineman selected by New Orleans in the first round all-time, joining G John Shinners (1969), G Royce Smith (1972), G Kurt Schumacher (1975), T Stan Brock (1980), T Jim Dombrowski (1986), T William Roaf (1993), G Chris Naeole (1997), T Kyle Turley (1988), T Jammal Brown (2005), T Andrus Peat (2015) and T Ryan Ramczyk (2017).
  • The 6-4, 316-pound Ruiz was a three-year letterman, who appeared in 36 games at Michigan, making 31 consecutive starting assignments to finish his career. He opened five games at right guard in 2017 and 26 straight at center the past two seasons.
  • As a junior in 209, Ruiz started all 13 games at center including his third consecutive bowl game with the start against Alabama in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. Ruiz was selected as an All-Big Ten second-team selection by the conference coaches, as he was the highest-graded pass blocking center in the country according to Pro Football Focus.
  • It marks the second consecutive year the Saints have selected an offensive lineman with their top pick in the NFL Draft, after C/G Erik McCoy was selected in the second round out of Texas A&M in 2019.
  • A native of Pennsauken, N.J., Ruiz was the Rivals No. 1 center recruit coming out of IMG Academy in Florida where he played from 2015-16
  • Ruiz majored in Afro-American and African studies at Michigan.
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