The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 83 BY CHRIS BALAS G reat centers are often the difference mak- ers between serviceable and outstanding line play, and many who have played the game at the college level would argue they're a necessity for any team that wants a great offense. "He's the guy making all the calls," said for- mer Michigan offensive lineman Doug Skene, who played next to one of U-M's all-time greats in Steve Everitt (1992). "Next to the quarterback, he's prob- ably the most important player when it comes to making an offense work." The Wolverines have had their share of outstand- ing centers over the years, and they've also gone the route of stopgaps — moving a guard over (David Baas in 2004, Graham Glasgow in 2015) and con- verting defensive linemen (Dave Pearson, 2002-03, Kurt Anderson in 2001). Finding a guy and keeping him there adds stabil- ity, though, and in that respect it can be a bonus to have a guy groomed for the position and ready to play young. Enter sophomore Cesar Ruiz. If ever there were a guy born to play the position, Ruiz might be the man. He's stocky (6-4, 316) yet svelte, fluid in the hips and able to pivot on a dime. He's extremely smart, and he is confident when he makes the checks from the position. Even when Ruiz is wrong with his check, junior left guard Ben Bredeson noted — and he's a sopho- more, so he will be from time to time — it's not always disastrous. "I love Cesar at center," Bredeson said. "He makes the call, and he's assertive with it. There were times in the spring we weren't right and calls weren't right, but as long as everyone is on the same page, something good probably is going to come from it. "He's assertive with it and from a blocking scheme he's a strong kid. He and I work well to- gether." Ruiz elevates the confidence of the entire unit, sophomore wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones added, noting, "He's the guy you want at the point of attack." And as brute strength goes, it doesn't get much better. "Cesar Ruiz is pretty well balanced [physically]," new strength coach Ben Herbert said. "That's a 315-pound guy who can do 25 single-leg squats." Add that he got some experience last year as a true freshman — albeit at right guard — and the all-important "it means something to him," and the Wolverines have something potentially special in the middle. "Playing right guard last year really allowed me to get my feet wet," Ruiz said. "I was able to get a starting position [for five games] last year. What it really did for me was let me experience what it was like to play the game, what it was like to be a starter … how to take control and stuff like that. "Now I'm doing everything I can to master it. I'm studying my playbook every night. I don't have it down 100 percent perfectly, but I've got my hands on it pretty well. I just need to make sure I do have everything down 100 percent." Born To Play Center From Camden (N.J.) High to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, where he finished his career, Ruiz has been a favorite of teammates wherever he's been. Safeties/special teams coach Chris Partridge, a respected New Jersey prep coach before arriving at Michigan, helped reel Ruiz in, and he recalled how defensive linemen on the camp circuit all raved about Ruiz. "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 of- fensive linemen they faced, and everyone mentioned Cesar," Partridge said after Ruiz signed with the Wolverines. Somewhat reserved in front of the media, Ruiz is anything but when he's in front of his teammates. He's a "happy-go-lucky guy" his teammates gravi- tate to. That was evident in a spring workout video when he danced his way to the squat bar with a few dozen teammates encircling him, chanting his name as if he were a Roman emperor preparing for his gladiator match. He's also come a long way in just a year. There were rumblings as early as fall camp last year that he had the chance to be the next big thing on the Michigan line if he continued to put in the work, something that's always been second nature to him. This spring, he was one of the players who shined for new line coach Ed Warinner. The former Ohio State assistant, in fact, said Ruiz was on track to ac- complish some of the big things many on his OSU lines did, including potentially starting in the NFL as a rookie. Ruiz noted that starting five games at right guard and appearing in 10 contests overall last year have prepared him to anchor the line at the center position this fall. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN the MIDDLE Man Sophomore Cesar Ruiz Takes The Reins At Center With Great Potential