{{Short description|American football player (born 2003)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Enrique Cruz Jr. | image = | alt = | caption = | current_team = San Francisco 49ers | number = 69 | position = Offensive tackle | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|8|4}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 313 | high_school = Willowbrook (Villa Park, Illinois) | college = * Syracuse (2021–2024) * Kansas (2025) | draftyear = 2026 | draftround = 5 | draftpick = 179 | pastteams = * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2026}}–present) | status = Active | highlights = | statseason = | statweek = | statlabel1 = | statvalue1 = | statlabel2 = | statvalue2 = |espn =4691556 | pfr = }}
'''Enrique Cruz Jr.''' (born August 4, 2003) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and the Kansas Jayhawks.
==Early life and high school== Cruz Jr. attended Willowbrook High School located in Villa Park, Illinois. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports where he committed to play college football for the Syracuse Orange over offers from other schools such as Arizona, Indiana, Louisville, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Utah, Wake Forest, and West Virginia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Stephen |title=Syracuse football recruiting: OT Enrique Cruz becomes one of SU’s top commits |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2020/09/syracuse-football-recruiting-ot-enrique-cruz-becomes-one-of-sus-top-commits.html |website=Syracuse.com |date=7 September 2020 |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref>
==College career== === Syracuse === Cruz Jr. used the 2021 season to redshirt, as he did not appear in any games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leiker |first1=Emily |title=Enrique Cruz Jr. on NIL deal with Syracuse football fan tailgate: ‘I just went for it’ |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2022/08/enrique-cruz-jr-on-su-fan-tailgate-deal-i-just-went-for-it.html |website=Syracuse.com |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> In the 2022 regular season finale, he was ejected after throwing multiple punches at defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leiker |first1=Emily |title=Syracuse offensive lineman Enrique Cruz ejected from Boston College game after throwing multiple punches |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2022/11/syracuse-offensive-lineman-ejected-from-boston-college-game-after-throwing-multiple-punches.html |website=Syracuse.com |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> In the 2022 season, Cruz Jr. started five games at right and left tackle.<ref>{{cite web |title=Unpacking Future Packers: No. 8, Kansas OL Enrique Cruz Jr |url=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2026/04/18/unpacking-future-packers-no-8-kansas-ol-enrique-cruz-jr/89665830007/ |website=Packers Wire |date=18 April 2026 |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> During the 2023 season, he took over as the Orange's starting left tackle, making all 13 starts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenstein |first1=Henry |title=Offensive tackle Cruz was ‘starstruck’ from first glimpse of KU |url=https://www2.kusports.com/sports/college/football/2025/aug/10/offensive-tackle-cruz-was-starstruck-from-first-glimpse-of-ku/ |website=KU Sports |date=10 August 2025 |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> After playing in just three games in 2024, Cruz Jr. entered the NCAA transfer portal after the conclusion of the season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edmonds |first1=Javon |title=Syracuse football losing two more former starters to transfer portal |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2025/04/syracuse-football-losing-two-more-former-starters-to-transfer-portal.html |website=Syracuse.com |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref>
=== Kansas === Cruz Jr. transferred to play for the Kansas Jayhawks.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edmonds |first1=Javon |title=Syracuse offensive lineman Enrique Cruz Jr. transfers to Kansas |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2025/04/syracuse-offensive-lineman-enrique-cruz-jr-transfers-to-kansas.html |website=Syracuse.com |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> He entered the 2025 season, as the Jayhawks starting right tackle, finishing the year making all 12 starts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oberhelman |first1=Dave |title=College Achievers: Willowbrook’s Cruz working for a shot at the NFL Combine |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20260118/prep-sports/college-achievers-willowbrooks-cruz-working-for-a-shot-at-the-nfl-combine/ |website=Daily Herald |date=18 January 2026 |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> After the conclusion of the season, Cruz Jr. declared for the 2026 NFL draft, while also accepting an invite to participate in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Laddha |first1=Shreyas |title=Now-former Kansas Jayhawks football lineman hopes to extend an NFL Draft streak |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article315020490.html |website=Kansas City Star |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 5 1/2 | weight = 313 | dash = 4.94 | ten split = 1.74 | twenty split = 2.88 | vertical = 35.0 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 8 | arm span = 33 3/4 | hand span = 10 1/4 | wingspan ft = 6 | wingspan in = 10 3/4 | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/enrique-cruz-jr./32004352-5584-0186-3098-c873145ae2c7 |title=Enrique Cruz Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 25, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1053466&DraftYear=2026 |title=Enrique Cruz College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 25, 2026}}</ref> }} Cruz was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round with the 179th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Brooke |date=April 25, 2026 |title=49ers Select OL Enrique Cruz Jr. with the No. 179 Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-select-ol-enrique-cruz-jr-with-the-no-179-pick-in-the-2026-nfl-draft |access-date=27 April 2026 |website=49ers.com}}</ref> On May 8, he signed his rookie deal with the 49ers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=49ers Sign Six Draft Picks, Seven Undrafted Rookie Free Agents|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-six-draft-picks-seven-undrafted-rookie-free-agents|website=49ers.com|date=May 8, 2026|access-date=May 8, 2026}}</ref>
== Personal life == Cruz is of Puerto Rican descent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-25 |title=What Enrique Cruz Jr. will provide 49ers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/nfl-draft-2026-rounds-4-7-live-updates-order-picks-trades-grades/YQja6CGL4wXW/ |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=The Athletic |language=}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://cuse.com/sports/football/roster/enrique-cruz-jr/23315 Syracuse Orange bio] *[https://kuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/enrique-cruz-jr/16503 Kansas Jayhawks bio] *[https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/enrique-cruz/ San Francisco 49ers bio]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz Jr., Enrique}} Category:2003 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Players of American football from Chicago Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent Category:Hispanic and Latino American players of American football Category:Puerto Rican players of American football Category:Sportspeople of Puerto Rican descent Category:American football offensive tackles Category:Syracuse Orange football players Category:Kansas Jayhawks football players Category:San Francisco 49ers players