Sleeper DT could have busy spring

There's a sleeper who plays for La Puente (Calif.) Bishop Amat who will most likely see his stock rise this spring once D-I schools are allowed to visit schools and look at tape. He is a defensive tackle for Amat and could end up there, but he could also end up on the offensive side of the ball as an offensive lineman.

The player in question is defensive tackle Vincent Federico (6-4, 280, 5.1).

Federico plays in arguably the toughest league in Southern Section CIF Division I football. Last season five out of the league's six schools made the playoffs.

A couple of years ago every school in the league made the playoffs and didn't get beat until they started to face each other.

When you play in a league that is as tough as the Serra League is honors for junior players are hard to come by.

This sleeper defensive tackle prospect racked up over 40 tackles as a junior. He compares quite nicely to San Diego State bound Jonathan Soto who played for Amat last season.

"Vincent (Federico) has a bigger frame than Jonathan (Soto)," Bishop Amat coach Mike DiFiori said. "He has a tremendous future in football."

"Vincent moves very well especially tackle-to-tackle," DiFiori said. "He has great explosion off the ball."

"The thing that you love about Vincent is he plays hard from the snap of the ball until the blow of the whistle," DiFiori said. "He has a non-stop motor."

Federico currently benches 315-pounds and power cleans 235-pounds.

On the recruiting front Pac-10 schools UCLA, Cal, Arizona, Oregon and Oregon State are showing the sleeper defensive tackle interest.

"I think once schools come by the school and see Vincent he could get offers," DiFiori said. "He passes the look test and he can play, too."