With the 24th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints selected OL
Five things to know about offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz, selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 24th pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
- When Ruiz was eight years old his father, also named Cesar, was hit by a car on the side of a South New Jersey highway. He had pulled over to help another driver fix a flat tire. Ruiz began playing football at age 10 to cope with the tragedy.
- Ruiz left his Camden, N.J., home to enroll at IMG in Bradenton, Fla., and he helped lead the team to back-to-back undefeated seasons and recruiters fell in love with him.
- Ruiz was a four star recruit and 41st overall prospect in the class of 2017, according to Rivals.com.
- Ruiz started five games at right guard and played in 10 games total for the Wolverines as a true freshman. He was moved to center (his more natural position) and started at center the following two seasons at Michigan.
- Ruiz was named the best pass-blocking center in the country by Pro Football Focus in 2019, with 447 snaps spent in pass protection and just eight pressures allowed and none over the final five games of the season.