Ruiz expands focus

Even on a macro level, Cesar Ruiz is conflicted. Originally from Maryland, the four-star offensive lineman attends high school at Florida's IMG Academy. He once intended on returning to the Northeast for college in 2017. Ruiz was fully set on a homecoming of sorts.

Until recently.

"I feel like I can play anywhere now," Ruiz said. "Now that I've adjusted to Florida and this Florida weather, I'm ready. I'm already used to up north and I'm use to playing in the cold and other conditions. Now I'm used to everything. I feel like I could play anywhere. Now it's just about which schools fits my criteria.

Ruiz was recently forced to cancelled a scheduled trip to Florida for the Gators' recent game with Ole Miss. He'll have plenty of time to reschedule such a visit, however, as a commitment announcement is still more than a year away.

"I'm waiting until the (2017) Under Armour Game no matter what," Ruiz said. "Even if I know my school and make up my mind before that, I'm going to wait for the Under Armour Game."

Everything I'm not made me everything I am. 💯😈 pic.twitter.com/TkXDMeedQS- Cesar Ruiz (@_OverCees) September 13, 2015

WHAT'S NEXT?: Ruiz plans to visit Auburn on Nov. 14, when the Tigers are set to host Georgia. That's the only trip set in stone on the schedule for the time being, but he is planning to tour Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida, Miami, Georgia and Florida State in the offseason. The four-star lineman does not plan to announce a verbal commitment until January of 2017.

IN HIS WORDS: "Mostly, it's just the schools that have already offered that are talking to me," Ruiz said. "It's them and Clemson and Oklahoma … those two haven't offered yet but they talk to me all the time."

RIVALS' REACTION: Projecting Ruiz's path at such an early juncture is difficult to say the least. He has taken few campus visits and has swears he has no leader in the process. Michigan was once thought to be the leader the for Ruiz, and the Wolverines will certainly be tough to beat, but programs such as Alabama, Florida, Auburn and North Carolina will also be involved until the end.

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