Create your own site

Headlines

Subscribe to our Newsletter



Diaz is well-armed for success


By RON GUILD, Sports Editor 13.NOV.08

When Jesse Diaz first went out for football at Roosevelt High School, he thought catching passes, not throwing them, would be the quickest path to success.

“They had eight guys trying out at quarterback and three at wide receiver,” he said. “I thought my chances were better at wide receiver.”

That has to seem like a lifetime ago for Diaz, who will be starting at quarterback for the Rough Riders against Garfield Friday in his third East L.A. Classic.

Now, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder who is drawing looks from college programs, Diaz has developed into one of the City Section’s premier quarterbacks.

He heads into the 74th edition of the series having thrown for 1,726 yards and 18 touchdowns with only one interception for the Eastern League-leading Rough Riders, who are 8-1 overall and 5-0 in league.

Three years ago, attrition at the position opened the doors for Diaz. One quarterback got hurt, another was lost to grades. Coach Javier Cid, spotting Diaz throwing the ball around in practice, liked what he saw and decided to give him a shot behind center.

His first start came in the final regular-season game against South East and he threw three touchdown passes.

The rest is history for Diaz, who earned All-City honors a year ago and engineered an upset of Garfield in last year’s Classic.

Roosevelt coach Javier Cid said arm strength and smarts are what led him to make Diaz his quarterback three years ago.

“I chose him without any experience because I liked his size and his grade point average,” the coach said. “For the offense we needed to run, we need someone who has the size and the smarts. Jesse doesn’t just go up there and throw the ball. He knows how to read defenses. Not every kid can do that.

“I have to give a lot of credit to one of our assistants, Oscar Tavera. He played quarterback at Roosevelt in 1988 and has helped Jesse develop. He’s been his tutor on the field.”

Cid is confident Diaz will make it at the next level.

Idaho State, UC Davis and Stanford are some of the college football programs that have displayed an interest.

“He doesn’t get the press a lot of these guys (top recruits) get, but he’s going to surprise a lot of people,” Cid said. “I think Jesse is going to be one of those guys that make it happen. I want it to happen so we can create a pipeline to the colleges. If he makes it, maybe the recruiters will start to come out and look at us more.”

For his part, Diaz is focused now on Friday’s game.

“This means the world to me because I grew up watching this game,” he said. “Being it’s my last one, I don’t want to lose. The fact it’s for the league title makes it even more of an honor to be part of it.”