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Lopez drawing recruiting attention

By RON GUILD, Sports Editor 01.NOV.07

David Lopez, as a legitimate Division I college football prospect, is a rarity at Garfield High School.

But the 6-foot-3, 235-pound middle linebacker has all the requisite size and skills to make him the first player of that level in the six years Lorenzo Hernandez has been the Bulldogs coach.

He’ll be one of the players to watch when Garfield and Roosevelt square off Friday in the 73rd East L.A. Classic at East L.A. College.

“There’s no reason he shouldn’t be playing at that level,” Hernandez said of Lopez, who leads Garfield with 81 tackles. “He has the prototypical body. He’s 6-3, 235 with long arms and is athletic. He’s run a 4.6, 4.7 40. He’s the most legitimate Division I kid I’ve had here.”

Hernandez, who has sent players to programs below the Division I level, said the bigger programs have taken notice of Lopez, an excellent run-stopper.

“Washington has come to the office to evaluate him, USC (linebackers) coach (Ken) Norton has been by to look at him,” Hernandez said. “Arizona State has been on him since the beginning of the season. They all tell me they have him on their boards.”

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Roosevelt junior quarterback Jesse Diaz is the prototypical student-athlete.

Not only does he rank among the City Section’s leading passers, but he carries a 3.6 grade point average in A.P. and honors classes.

On the field, he’s completed 118 of 171 passes for a City-best 69 percent and his 1,560 yards through the air ranks third in the City behind Jordan’s James Boyd (1,955) and Wilson’s Steven Batista (1,727).

“Our quarterback is really smart,” Rough Rider coach Javier Cid said. “He’s able to audibilize at the line of scrimmage. He’s definitely a leader. He gets hit, but doesn’t get rattled and stays in the pocket.

“Before he started last year (his debut was against Crenshaw), he didn’t have much experience playing quarterback.”

In last year’s Classic, Diaz completed 23 of 29 passes for more than 200 yards.

Diaz’ favorite target has been Manny Ayon, a basketball player who has 30 receptions.

“He’s small, but he’s a tough kid,” Cid said. “He’s our hidden weapon.”