Interview: 2018 California ATH Isac Velasquez Showing Out in All Three Phases
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
When tested or when given the opportunity, Class of 2018 all-purpose athlete Isac Velasquez has been showing out for Diamond Ranch High School this season. High school football fans in the southern California area watched Velasquez rip opposing defenses apart last year but now they are getting to see him stop the opposition’s offense as well as make special team defenders look foolish.
Throughout the 2016 season, Velasquez was Mr. Electric on offense pulling in 50 passes for 998 yards with 11 touchdowns and logged 17 carries for 229 yards with another score. He showcased his speed and agility on punt returns taking five back the other way for 88 yards. A dabble on the other side of the ball last year with Alta Loma High School ended up being a foreshadowing of things to come.
Velasquez worked his tail off during the offseason making the rounds at camps, 7v7 events, and going through the rigors of the Panthers spring and summer ball. The Diamond Ranch coaching staff knows just how special a player Velasquez is on the field placing even more responsibilities on his shoulders during his senior year. Stats posted through five of the Panthers six games show their standout with 10 carries for 154 yards with two scores and three receptions for 65 yards. He has made an even bigger impact on special teams taking four punts back for 102 yards and has returned seven kicks covering 223 yards.
Recruiting interest was already coming in for the 5-10, 178 pound, speedster with a verified 4.45 time in the 40-yard dash, but his play at corner is bringing even more looks. Velasquez already has 14 tackles, 13 solo, a tackle for a loss, and four picks. Velasquez barely played defense last season, but in the short time that he did, he registered an interception, once again proving just how special of an athlete he truly is on the gridiron. The long list of teams that have shown interest in the student-athlete sporting a 3.6 GPA includes Colorado, San Diego State, Fresno State, Nevada, Army, San Jose State, Cal, and USC, to name a few.
In a Recruiting News Guru in-season interview, I sat down with Velasquez going over his play on the field with an update on his recruitment.
Interview
Isac, you have a well-deserved reputation as a game changer on offense at receiver but this year you are earning a reputation as a show stopper at corner. How did the opportunity to play corner for the Panthers come about and what is contributing to you doing so well at such a tough position?
“My playing a new position came about because of our former coach who played at Washington State, Coach (Daniel) Simmons. Coach Simmons played corner at Wazzu. I look up to him. He was trying to teach me what he had learned. He passed that down to me and the other DBs at Diamond Ranch and now I am doing my best out there.”
What are you doing well out there as a corner?
“Man-press. With my speed, I can catch up to receivers if there is any separation. Playing receiver, I know all the routes. Knowing what they will do has helped, and knowing how to read keys on both sides of the ball.”
You’re also showing off your athleticism on as a return specialist, what is your mentality when fielding a punt?
“Honestly, one-cut and go. Nothing to it. I just try to get as many yards as I can.”
The coaching staff at Diamond Ranch are finding great ways of getting you the ball on offense this year. What are some of the designed plays or ways they are using your abilities to help win ball games?
“They are trying to use my abilities mainly in space. Catch the ball in space and let us do our thing. We have a lot of big time players on our team. For all of us, get the ball to us quickly and let us do the work.”
Which game this season has been your best?
“Burroughs (Sept. 15 – won 38-23). I think I had an 80-yard rushing touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown. My punt return was on NBC as a top play. I had a lot of yards and some good plays on defense – I also had two interceptions.”
*Awarded NBC Sports Roggins MVP of the Week, Fox Sports 1350 AM Player of the Week, and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Player of the Week for his play against Burroughs.
Wow. That is one heck of a game. You had a bye week before the Charter Oak game (Oct. 6), what did you do to prepare for the second half of the season with the downtime?
“It was not a bye week for us. They are our biggest competition in our league. We had a chip on a shoulder. MaxPreps put the final score at 35-3 before we played the game. We put in some new plays for that game. They run a man-to-man defense. We lined up to see who is the better man. We knew it would be a dogfight through all four quarters (lost 14-7).”
The Panthers played Charter Oak on Friday, how did the game go for you?
“It went fairly well. We struggled some on offense. They were getting some pressure on us. Our run game is always tremendous. Our defense did a good job. They were putting up a lot of points on other teams but we held them.”
Are there any other games this season you are pumped to play?
“Los Altos (Nov. 3). Their quarterback (Kody Olmos) is a dual-threat with a lot of passing yards. The Los Altos game will be a big game for our secondary.”
How is your recruiting interest coming along?
“It is going well. Arizona, UCLA, UNLV, Nevada, Azusa Pacific, Oklahoma Baptist, Columbia, Central Florida, Washington State, and Wyoming are showing interest. There are a couple more, can’t think of them all… San Jose State, Georgia Tech, New Mexico, Toledo, Southern Utah, Hawaii, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Sacramento State, UC Davis, Fresno State at corner, Humboldt State, and Colorado Mesa are also showing interest.”
What are college coaches telling you they like about your game?
“They like that I am versatile, not just a one position guy. I am able to show my athletic ability at corner, receiver, and slot. Based on my play on defense during my first year playing corner, coaches believe I can play anywhere in the secondary at the next level. Coaches are also telling me that I am a threat on special teams as a return specialist.”
Have you taken any visits this fall?
“I have taken two unofficial game day visits to UCLA games.”
How did the UCLA visits go?
“They went great. The first visit was for the first game of the season, the Texas A&M game. That game shows in football anything can happen. That was a tremendous game. Everyone was going crazy when they won. The coaches and fan base were welcoming and great. The Colorado game was great too. The atmosphere at the Rose Bowl is something special.”
Do you have any other visits coming up?
“On Oct. 21, I am visiting UNLV. On Oct. 28, I might go to the Arizona verses Washington State game. On Nov. 4, I’m visiting New Mexico State and on Nov. 11 I’m visiting Cal Poly. I may also visit Oklahoma Baptist University this fall.”
Over the final five regular season games, what are your goals?
“My goals are for the team. We want to win league and make a run in the playoffs. I believe we can play with anyone at any time. We want that ring. I just want to help my team in anyway no matter the position and get good grades throughout the season.”
Isac, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of the season.
“Thank you.”
*Click link for Isac Velasquez Hudl page
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Action photo credits: Diamond Ranch HS; No. 24 Isac Velasquez
Photo credit: Velasquez family; Isac Velasquez Fox Sports interview