Visit helps AU with No. 1 center

AUBURN | Auburn has improved its chances of signing the top-ranked center in the 2017 class.

The Tigers played host to Cesar Ruiz this weekend and took advantage of the opportunity to have the IMG Academy standout on campus.

“It helped Auburn,” Ruiz said. “It definitely helped Auburn a lot.”

Ruiz was one of two recruits in Auburn for an official visit, joining tight end teammate Tre’ McKitty. The two arrived early Saturday morning and stayed until Sunday afternoon.

“I had a great time,” Ruiz said.

The highlight of the visit was sitting on the front row inside Jordan-Hare Stadium for Auburn’s’ 56-3 drubbing of Arkansas.

“The game wasn’t what I was expecting, but I’m glad I saw that,” Ruiz said. “Auburn was toting the ball and they handled them.”

Auburn rushed for an SEC-regular-season record of 543 yards.

“I looked at the scoreboard and the stats in the second quarter and it was already 200-something rushing yards,” Ruiz said. “I thought it was a typo.”

Ruiz spent a lot of time before and after the game meeting with the Auburn coaches. He spent the most time with offensive line coach Herb Hand.

“Me and Coach Hand were just talking about football in general and how I have an opportunity to come in and play,” Ruiz said.

The player and coach have a relationship that dates back to Hand’s days at Penn State, where he was offensive line coach prior to Auburn.