MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMEN | GSF HS Football Showcase

Описание: by: Pranav Iyer
http://getsportsfocus.com/Football-de...

20 Bay Area high school offensive and defensive lineman represented their schools at the 2018 GetSportsFocus High School Football Showcase on June 17th. Players came from near and far, including six from Archbishop Riordan High School, and were coached by a prolific group of college coaches, including Alex Berlinger from Contra Costa College and Andrew Banua from Hartnell College.

“There was a certain swagger to the group that even five or ten years ago, I don’t think the offensive lineman in the Bay Area had that same swagger to them,” Berlinger said.

For many lineman around the nation, exposure and experience is hard to come across. While there are constantly 7-on-7 tournaments and other events catered to skill players, linemen oftentimes have to take the backseat and watch their teammates from the sidelines during the offseason. That is why for Alforde Joaquin, the founder of GSF and head organizer of the showcase, he prioritized the linemen aspect of the event.

The coaches were in fact pleasantly surprised by the skill, strength and knowledge of the players, given the fact that they were still at the high school level. As the offensive line coach for the showcase, Berlinger said the player that stuck out to him the most was class of 2020 recruit Gabriel Martin from ARHS.

“I saw a lot of traits that if he continued to build, “ Berlinger said about Martin, “he could be one of the next great Division I lineman out of the Bay Area.”

Banua, who coached the defensive line in this showcase said it was class of 2019 recruit Michael Estrada, also from ARHS, who drew his eye.

The entire team of lineman coaches came together at the conclusion of the event to put together the top five lineman on both sides of the ball.

5 Most Outstanding Offensive Linemen – Jason Reyes, Simi Iulio, Gabriel Martin, Mose Vavao, Michael Arellano
5 Most Outstanding Defensive Linemen – Anthony Madrigal, Justin DeWitt, Michael Estrada, Afa Sanft, Kevin Malu

Up next for many of the linemen who participated in the GSF showcase is the Super Lineman Invitational on June 23rd at Pittsburgh High School. This event is headed by former San Francisco 49er and four-time Super Bowl champion Jesse Sapolu and Banua will serve as one of the coaches.

For these coaches, while it can definitely be a time to make connections for future recruitment, their reasons for participating in events like these is rooted in selflessness and their passion for the sport and helping the student athletes.

“It’s all about changing people’s lives,” Banua said. “That’s why I got into coaching: to influence them, motivate them, and change their lives for the better beyond football.”

Berlinger, who played his high school and junior college years in the Bay Area, understands that the football community, especially the lineman community in the area is extremely small, and therefore must be tight knit.

“My number one goal coaching offensive line is [finding] how [to] help the Bay Area be better offensive line [wise],” Berlinger said. “We’re right in the hub, whether it’s technology or football. It’s just having the resources and knowing the right people to learn and work with.”

The end goal for both of these coaches is to take their knowledge and leadership to the Division I level, but along the way they are not only gaining an extraordinary amount of experience, but also forming lifelong connections and making impacts on the lives of countless student athletes. And that to them is what makes it all worthwhile.