Sollenberger Classic Teams Magazine Cover Return Home

Brandon Ruiz Headed to Alabama
deadly from 45 and in. O’Connor senior Trey Ratkovich
also hit from 53 yards last year. Cesar Chavez junior Carlos
Ritchie made a 51-yarder last year also.
We talked with Ruiz on his incredible summer:
Question: When did you start kicking and when did
you know you were getting good at it?
Answer: I started kicking in 8th grade. My brother Blake
taught me and I knew I was good my freshman year.
Q: Tell us how the process with Alabama came about?
A: I attended their camp and competed with the best kickers
across the country. Alabama had always been my
dream.
Q: How did they inform you? Was it right away?
A: No it was a four-day process for them to make their decision
and then I got the call from Coach Saban.
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban with Brandon Ruiz (photo
courtesy of the Ruiz Family)
By Andy Morales
azpreps365.com
Williams Field kicker Brandon Ruiz attended an Alabama
camp in early June and he committed to the program days
later after receiving a phone call from legendary coach
Nick Saban. Yes, when you are good, things work that fast.
Ruiz, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, had the distance and hang
time coaches were looking for on kickoffs and his accuracy
on field goals was equally impressive. Don’t be surprised if
he breaks the state record of 63 yards held by Jeff Locke
(Mountain Ridge in 2007).
Ruiz routinely breaks that mark in practice and his personal
record is 76 yards. His 79-yard, 4.1 second hang
time on a kickoff at a camp in South Carolina made him a
U.S. Army All-American, the first from his school.
His competition this year?
Nathan Taylor made a 57-yarder for Thunderbird last year
and he is now playing for Colorado State-Pueblo. Ruiz will
be pushed by Coronado senior Alfredo “Junior” Marquez
this year. Marquez nailed a 53-yarder last year and is
Q: What was your parents’ reaction to the news?
A: They were super excited. This is what we were all hoping
for.
Q: Did you say yes right away?
A: Yes, we talked as a family over the four days before.
Q: What is your longest kick? Longest in a game and
longest in practice?
A: 51-yard game winner (against Mesa) and 79 in practice
but 76 is on film.
Q: Tell us about all the all-star games or camps you
are doing this summer.
A: The only camps I did this summer were Alabama and
Tennessee where I earned offers at each and the Top Gun
last week in South Carolina where I competed and earned
a spot in the Army All American Game.
Q: Have any other schools tried to get you to drop Alabama
and commit to them since?
A: Some have stayed in contact but I'm completely committed
to Alabama.
Q: What is Saban like in person?
A: He is intimidating but very nice and down to earth.
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