Interview: Speed Burning 2021 ATH Alex Sotolongo Does It All for Claremont on the Field
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
At the skill positions, college coaches love high school players with track speed in a football body and a determined approach – that is Alex Sotolongo.
The Class of 2021 three-sport athlete was a Junior Olympian twice placing in the Top 8 in the 4×400, 4×100, and long jump and on relay teams that took second in the nation and fifth. Keeping that going, he posted a 10.8 in the 100 in his first and only track meet of the 2019 season. Moving to football as a freshman, his skillset has grown becoming a relied upon talent for Claremont High School at corner and receiver padding the stat sheet with 40 receptions for 611 yards with eight touchdowns and 21 carries for 136 more with another score on the board. On defense he put an end to 20 plays with a tackle for a loss, a pick, and a forced fumble.
After his multifaceted role for the Wolfpack and earning All-Palomares League honors as a receiver, college programs are finding Sotolongo. Covering the skills of the 5-11, 195-pound, athlete is not easy, but we got him into the RNG Lab to go in-depth on as much of his talents as possible.
Interview
Alex, it is a whole lot of fun watching you play. You take the field with no fear and play the game with the goal of imposing your will on the opposition. Friday nights in the fall, what pumps you up to play at such a high level?
“The competitiveness of the game, I am a competitive dude; that fires me up. I am not a chant guy before the game, I am in my head thinking about the game then. I love playing football and competing at a high level.”
On offense that no fear attitude was on full display going across the middle, running seam routes up the gut, and cracking down on linebackers and nickels on running plays. What were some of the other traits to your game that you were able to display on offense last season?
“Speed, that is probably my No. 1 thing. I am explosive, and I have been fast all my life on the track scene; I brought that to football. My mentality is I will beat you each play, and that I am better than everyone one the field. That helps me on the field.”
They had you out wide and in the slot, what were some of the routes you were running within the scheme?
“Out wide – seams, corners, and posts, and in the slot, bubbles and screens, outs – really, I ran most of the route tree last season.”
How did your overall game improve last season on offense?
“It improved a lot. My game improved the most with my route running. During my sophomore year, I started, but was still getting the hang of it. The game opened up to me more last season. I was understanding the game more, had better technique, my get off was better, and my speed increased. My routes and knowledge of the game all improved along with my technique, all that helped me advance in the game.”
You also lined up on defense at corner, how did that part of your game come along during your junior year?
“I also improved a lot on defense. I was starting both ways my junior year. At corner, it is you against your dude; you are playing man or zone. Last season I learned a lot about coverages. Me being as fast and athletic as I am, it is easier to cover guys all game. My game improved with technique. At corner, it is a technical position. I was in the mind of both receiver and corner on defense, knowing what the other guy was looking for that helped out.”
Speed is such a big part of your game, how fast are you?
“My fastest 40 time is a 4.51 laser-timed.”
Where did you drop that?
“At Blast Athletics, a local place that puts on combines.”
When the 2020 season gets going, what roles are you taking on?
“This season I will be all over the place. As my film shows, I move around the field a lot. This season I will be playing slot, receiver, running back, corner, kick and punt returner, and I will be on kickoff making the tackles; I am all over the place in 2020. I am a very versatile player; I will play all over the place.”
To make all of that happen at a high level, what have you been working on this offseason?
“Gaining weight. My weight gain has been 15 to 20 pounds. I have been going to the gym five days a week. My dad owns a gym, I can go workout when I want. I have also been doing speed and agility training with my trainer who works with national caliber athletes and players and helps gets them ready for NFL combine. My weight and strength have increased and I am keeping my speed and getting faster.”
What has been your daily workout routine?
“Five days a week I am lifting doing different body parts each day to gain muscle mass. One day I will hit chest and triceps and the next do back and biceps. I max lift too on deadlift, bench, and squat, so I can keep my list of maxes for college coaches.”
You just mentioned maxing out, what are your maxes?
“My dead lift max is 425, bench is 255, and my squat is 400.”
Looking to the summer, are there any college camps you may attend if they happen?
“Definitely, when everything opens back up. Some schools have talked to me about going to their camps: UC-Davis, Weber State, Boise State, and Arizona State. I was invited to FBU Top Gun Showcase in Naples in July as well.”
Which schools are showing recruiting interest but have not offered yet?
“Boise State, Washington State, UC-Davis, Weber State, Syracuse, Arizona State, and Northwestern.”
Nice. Do you have any visits on the schedule for this summer and/or fall?
“Yes, I plan on visiting Sac State, Arizona State, Weber State, and Boise State.”
We know you play football, and you’ve mentioned track, what all varsity sports are you competing in for Claremont?
“Football, track, and basketball.”
Which events in track?
“The 100, 200, 4×1, and long jump.”
What are your PR times?
“In the 100, my PR from this season, I wish we had a season this year, we only had one track meet, was a 10.80. My long jump PR is around 22-feet, 22-and change.”
Impressive. Going into the classroom, what is your cumulative GPA?
“Last semester I had a 4.2, and my cumulative is a 3.9.”
Last question. Looking to the 2020 season, what do you want to accomplish?
“During the 2020 season I would like to accomplish 1,000-plus receiving, 15 to 20 TDs, and as a team, I think we will win League and go far in CIF; we have a lot of seniors. I want to earn All-CIF, All-League, and I am aiming for MVP.”
I like it. Alex, thanks for your time today and good luck with your workouts this summer until we talk again.
“Thank you.”
Coaching quote from Mike Esquivel:
Coach Mike Esquivel, who currently is the varsity offensive coordinator at Diamond Ranch High School, has been coaching high school football in the Inland Empire for 19 years is known for helping student athletes in Southern California. He spent 13 seasons with legendary former Upland head coach Tim Salter and helped build a college recruiting meca for the Highlanders. Over the years Esquivel has helped connect college coaches from all different types of divisions with players from different high schools. College coaches relay on local high school coaches like Esquivel to help them identify high school football prospects in the region. Coach Esquivel has recognized Alex’s talents this past season and has this to say about the Claremont Wolfpack standout.
“ Alex is the type of player where he can hurt a defense from different various positions from slot receiver to running back. He has FBS caliber speed with his 4.51 40-time, and in critical situations he creates big yards after the catch.
“Alex is very elusive in space with his top notch speed. His physical power enables him to break tackles and to block physical corners and linebackers that he goes up against when he is at receiver. Alex has it all in what a college coach is looking for. He is a 4.1 academic student, he is always in the weight room five days a week, and a great character kid with a work ethic that in unmatched by players his age. He is definitely a player that will be explosive on Saturdays next year at the Division-I level.”
Photo credit: Claremont HS/Sotolongo family; Alex Sotolongo on the field, deadlift, and track medals