SoCal Sleeper OL is emerging
In the early going it appears that it is a lean year along the offensive front for the class of 2009 in the Golden State of California, but as the spring evaluation period moves on more players are coming to the forefront due to outstanding camp performances at different camps.
One player who looked very good at the recent adidas camp held in Westwood was offensive lineman Alberto Cid (6-3.5, 285, 5.0) from West Covina, Calif.
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Cid has had an outstanding offseason and is really beginning to take football seriously and his work habits have drastically improved from good to superb.
"Alberto plays football with an attitude, which I like," West Covina coach Mike Maggiore said. "He's very bright, he picks things up things easily and applies them.
"The funny thing is Alberto probably has the best arm on the team," Maggiore said. "He's a great athlete. He can throw the ball 60 yards in the air.
"We have had quite a few offensive linemen to off and play on and start the D-I level," Maggiore said. "Alberto is right up there with them.
"We will even play him at tight end this season," Maggiore said. "If the ball is even to him he will catch the ball."
On the recruiting trail pretty much the entire Pac 10 except USC has been on campus and all took tape with them.
Arizona, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State and UCLA taking a long look at him in the early going.
"I definitely think that Alberto will be an early offer guy," Maggiore said. "He will probably get a couple during the spring and maybe some more over summer, but when his senior season comes around he's going be highly recruited.
"Last year at this time, Alberto power cleaned 205, now he's up to 265," Maggiore said. "He's going to be near 300 by the time the season starts. He was benching 235 a year ago and now he's at 305.
"The Monday after our last game, Alberto was in the weight room," Maggiore said. "He didn't play basketball in the offseason so he could concentrate on football.
"Alberto has great leadership skills, all the kids like him. They listen to him when he gets on them."
The scouting report on Cid is he's very athletic, light on his feet, competitive and has a nasty streak. He's also an outstanding long snapper, though he's never been really coached at the specialty, and that enhances his recruitment.
Cid earned all-league honors on both sides of the ball as a offensive lineman and defensive lineman as a junior.
One to jot down and track as the recruiting season moves along.