Saints grab center with first pick

Cesar Ruiz is a New Orleans Saint.

The junior center from the University of Michigan was selected by the Saints in the first round with the No. 24 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Ruiz is the third Wolverine to be taken in the first round in the past two drafts, joining linebacker Devin Bush Jr. (No. 10 overall to Pittsburgh in 2019) and pass-rusher Rashan Gary (No. 12 to Green Bay).

Ruiz was the highest offensive lineman picked from Michigan since 2014, when tackle Taylor Lewan was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 11 pick. He’s the fifth first-round pick the Wolverines have had in Jim Harbaugh’s tenure as head coach, joining Bush, Gary, Jabrill Peppers and Taco

Charlton.

Ruiz, who declared for the draft this offseason with one year of eligibility remaining, was regarded as the top center and interior offensive lineman available. He was projected by several prognosticators to teams that needed help in the trenches at the end of the first round.

The traits that made Ruiz a coveted prospect also made him an accomplished player at Michigan.

He was a three-year starter who started 26 consecutive games at center over his final two seasons, with five starts at right guard as a true freshman.

He was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and recognized by Pro Football Focus as the nation’s top pass-blocking center in 2019, playing 447 snaps in pass protection and allowing just eight pressures — with none over the final five games, including against Alabama and Ohio State.

Ruiz combined premier athleticism with good instincts and football IQ at the center position. He was agile enough to pull on run plays and block in space and drew special recognition from offensive line coach Ed Warinner after Michigan’s 45-14 victory over Notre Dame, in which the Wolverines rushed for 303 yards during a monsoon.

“He’s good in space,” Warinner said at the time. “We tease him, ‘Ceez in space.’ We joke around about that.

“He’s very athletic for a big offensive lineman. Fast. He made some nice plays on the second level.”

Ruiz, who is from New Jersey and prepped his senior year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., is one of the top recruits the Wolverines have signed under Harbaugh. He was the No. 47 overall prospect and No. 1 center in the 2017 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, and was expected to play a premier role along Michigan’s offensive line during his career.

Ruiz