Georgia center has great bloodlines

Junior to Watch: David Menocal

School: Gainesville (Ga.) High School

Position: Center

Size and speed: Menocal is 6-foot-3, weighs 255 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds.

Statistics: As a junior, graded out at 92 percent in anchoring the line and helping lead the team to a 13-1 record.

Favorite Schools: Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Vanderbilt, Michigan.

Skinny: If athletic bloodlines are any indication, David Menocal appears to be a good bet to command a lot of attention on the recruiting trail this year.

The Gainesville High School standout is the son of a former Cuban baseball player and the brother of former Georgia Tech star and current Philadelphia Phillies farmhand Victor Menocal. Another brother, Chris, was a state high school tennis champion in North Carolina.

“He comes from one of the most athletic families you could imagine,” said Gainesville coach Bruce Miller. “And even though David’s playing a different kind of sport than the other members of his family, he’s got a lot of their athletic traits, starting with his great feet. He’s got really quick feet that help him quite a bit on the offensive line.”

Menocal will be entering his third year as a starter for the Red Elephants. He graded out at 92 percent for the season a year ago, helping lead Gainesville to a 13-1 record and the state semifinals.

“He’s a good, balanced lineman,” Miller said. “He’s equally adept at pass blocking or run blocking. He’s a very strong kid. He benches about 350 and squats around 445. His work ethic is tremendous. He’s a smart kid, has a 4.2 weighted GPA and a 1040 on the SAT. He gets us in the right blocking schemes every time.

“I just think he’s a kid with a lot of upside. He’s going to put on another 20-25 pounds of muscle and make somebody a real athletic center.”

Miller said his star lineman has received early interest from Georgia Tech, Florida, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Louisville, Navy, Army and “most of the Ivy League schools where he’s such a bright kid.”

Menocal’s summer camp schedule hasn’t been set, but Miller said the team always goes to Furman’s line camp.