SoCal junior is a force in the trenches

Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame has a great track record of putting at least two or three players in to major Div I programs every year and next year will be no exception. Whereas this year prospects, QB Garrett Green and RB Rodney Glass, are known for their speed and skill, next year's top players will be on the offensive line and one of the state's top recruits regardless of position will be offensive lineman Sam DeMartinis.

DeMartinis, 6-6, 265 pounds was recently named 1st team all-state underclass this past season and should be among the top five offensive linemen in the state next year. He has all the tools to be a major Div I recruit next year and is drawing some pretty big raves from his OL coach at Notre Dame.

"If there's an offensive lineman in the class of 2007 with a better combination of size, athleticism, nastiness and skills, I'd like to see him," Notre Dame OL coach Thane Watkins said. "I've played offensive line at the high school, college and professional levels and coached high school O-line for four years and I can honestly say, he's the best I've seen at the high school level.

"The scary thing is, he has so much upside, when you look at his film, consider he was doing what he's doing to defenders while weighing 255 pounds. He's already up to 270 (and growing), and still maintaining his speed and agility. You could hang another 45-50 pounds on this kid easy. In my humble and biased opinion, he's the best junior offensive lineman in the nation."

DeMartinis was one of the standouts at the recent Army All-American combine and is already hearing from schools all over the country.

"Sam has gotten letters from UCLA, USC, Notre Dame, Washington, California, Arizona State, San Diego State, UNLV, Arizona, Florida State, Florida, Duke, BYU, Ohio State, Nebraska, Ole Miss and Oregon to name a few," Watkins said. "It's early so he still has a big list of schools but the ones I know he likes a lot are UCLA, USC, Notre Dame, Washington, California, Arizona State, San Diego State, UNLV and Arizona.

"He's going to attend the one day camps at UCLA and USC and any junior days he's invited to. He'll also attend the Nike camp again."

DeMartinis older brother Tony is a redshirt freshman at San Diego State and his parents attended UCLA.