Gavilan linebacker Anthony Vasquez may not have the size but
he?s got the tools to excel
Gilroy ? When you?re a 5-10, 210-pound linebacker, colleges aren?t beating down doors trying to get to you.
While physical size can be measured, a coach or recruiter has to dig deeper to check the size of a player?s heart, or his football intelligence level.
Gavilan coach John Lango knows what he has in Anthony Vasquez. It?s not just the pedigree of Vazquez, one of 11 San Benito High players on the Rams? roster. And it?s not big numbers as in tackles, interceptions and fumble recoveries.
It?s two plays that helped define Gavilan?s game at Hartnell, for example. On one, Vasquez blew up a Panthers? play that had touchdown written all over it when he forced Emmerson Dorris into an interception when the quarterback got the ball back after a double reverse. It was another when he made a clean hit on Dorris that produced a fumble. Jeff Weltz, another Hollister player, came up with the fumble and interception.
?My whole thing is I do what I have to do for the team,? Vasquez said. ?I?m not a talker. I just show it. I think we can all be leaders, by example. Everyone takes a role on this team, not just one individual.?
But some take larger roles than others. And some don?t time out well, or are that fast, or are that animated in their actions.
?He?s just a good football player,? Lango said. ?He?s one of those guys that don?t test out very well. But he makes plays. He does a great job for us.?
Vasquez only wishes others would take notice. An excellent student with a 3.5 grade point average in business and finance, Vasquez would like to play at the next level. However, his phone isn?t ringing off the hook nor is he getting text messages. Vasquez understands.
?I?m not the typical guy they are looking for,? Vasquez said of college coaches. ?I?m not 6-1, 240. It doesn?t matter how big you are, it?s how big you play.?
Lango said that Vasquez plays much bigger than his size. It comes with knowledge and being in the right place at the right time. Some have that knack. Others, with size, don?t.
So Vasquez just keeps on doing what he can to make an impression.
Of course, winning makes people notice. And Vasquez believes the Rams (1-4) are close to being winners, even if highly rated College of the Seqoias looms as the next team on the schedule.
?If we put four quarters together and eliminate the mistakes, we can beat them,? Vasquez said. ?Our win (against Hartnell) was huge. People came to school smiling, laughing. There was a whole different presence now that we know what it?s like to win.
?We know we will be the underdog (this week) but we?re the underdog all the time. When we play as a team, we know we can play with anyone. Besides, they play Reedley College (the following week) and we know they?re not thinking about us.?
It?s kind of like coaches and recruiters who look past one undersized Ram-tough linebacker.
