Interview with Chuck Filiaga, the Class of 2017 recruit only college coaches know about

There is a gridiron goldmine that is also a diamond in the rough in Murrieta, California. A rare gem that few football fans are aware of but college football coaches have flocked to see trying to lure the talent to their individual campus for next level glory. Many have even offered just to be in the mix without even setting up a relationship with this Southern California recruit.

I first came across this rising football recruit during the 2013 football season when he was helping San Diego powerhouse high school St. Augustine on their way to another CIF title, as a true freshman.

Now the growing legend that is Chuck Filiaga is at Vista Murrieta High School. The Class of 2017 rising star spent his freshman year playing defensive end but was moved to left tackle for his sophomore year being slotted into a position per his already massive size.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Chuck again, but this time going over his skyrocketing recruiting that is completely under the radar and how he is preparing for his junior season in 2015. I also spoke with Chuck’s mom, Judy McCoy, to help learn more about their plans on how to tackle the recruiting process going forward.

 

 

Chuck, catch me up to date real quick. What are your measurables right now?

“I’m at 6’7”, 275 pounds.”

Have you maxed out on bench or squat lately?

“Yes I have. My bench was 285 and my squat was 395.”

When you started your high school career as a freshman you were lining up at defensive end. Last season you made the move to offensive tackle, did you play tackle solely last year or did you play on both sides of the ball?

“Just on offense at tackle.”

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last year?

“I was Second-Team Southwestern All-League.”

Judy, what is the plan with Chuck’s recruiting going forward from the family’s perspective?

“We’ve put together a strategy, a plan if you will, for the next couple of years both academically and athletically.”

Judy, from your perspective what kind of learning curve was it for Chuck playing offensive tackle last year?

“One thing for Chuck was accepting playing a new position because he liked playing defensive end. The coaches that he would be better on offense and the coaches needed him there. I think one of the things he has come to realize along the way that he is suited for O-line.”

Chuck, what were some of your strengths playing offensive tackle? What did you excel well at doing during your first season playing offense?

“I was good at both pass and run blocking.”

Do you know how many pancake blocks you ended up with last year?

“I think I had 45. I’m not really sure.”

What are your goals for the 2015 season?

“To get my technique better because my sophomore year I had trouble with my technique. I’m starting to get better at it. My junior year I’ll come in and work on mastering my technique.”

Will you stay at offensive tackle in 2015 or will you start playing both sides of the ball again?

“As of right now my coaches are telling me I’ll go both ways at defensive end and at left tackle but mostly I’ll be on the offensive line at left tackle.”

Are you excited to play defensive end again?

“Yes, I’m really excited, and excited about offense as well.”

What kind of workouts are you doing in the offseason to get bigger stronger and faster?

“I’m running, lifting weights as well, and we have coaches that have offseason workouts with us as well.”

What are some of the drills that you are doing in an effort to help master playing offensive tackle?

“We’re doing footwork and agility with ladders, and core drills.”

What drills are you doing for defense? Are you doing any hand drills, working on any moves? What are you doing there?

“For defense I have not practiced with the defense yet. When I did go before spring ball, we worked on clubbing, ripping, and staying low as well as pass rushing.”

How is your pad level, hips, and stance coming along?

“My stance, everything is great. It’s just my pad level is always high, cause I’m a tall dude.”

Let’s talk a little bit about recruiting. I know that you have three offers, Ole Miss, Washington, and Washington State, are there any more?

“SDSU (San Diego State).”

(Judy): “I met with one of Chuck’s coaches last week, Coach Eric Peterson. It might be best to confirm some of this with him. In our conversation, he told me Chuck has over 25 offers. I have not spoken to 25 schools. I thought it was round five or six. I was somewhat surprised but apparently he’s been contacted directly. We don’t have the exact number of all the schools that have offered Chuck.”

I reached out to Coach Peterson after the interview. Coach Peterson did confirm that Chuck has over 25 offers, even to the point where he stopped counting who all had offered Chuck.

Judy: “To say I was shocked he had this many offers is an understatement. I knew there was interest in him. I was not aware that he had that much interest as a sophomore.”

Chuck, what camps are you going to this summer?

“Maybe going to a few, we don’t have anything else lined up other than camps. What we have lined up is working on agility drills. We have a ladder at home. (I’m) a diamond in the rough and I need to keep polishing. I need to make sure all the basics are things I don’t have to think about and things I excel at.”

When talking to Coach Peterson he said Chuck was signed up for USC’s elite camp.

You alluded to one camp, but I did not catch that. Which camp are you going to?

“The Jesse Sapolu (San Francisco 49ers 1983-1997) camp at Oceanside High.”

Are you taking any unofficial visits over the summer?

“We maybe hitting a few college campuses but it will be very unofficial. We’ll be taking a more comprehensive look at what will work well going forward academically and athletically. For sure, we will be visiting several colleges next summer.”

Any early favorites?

“I have my favorites but we have not sat down yet and gone over everything. I’m still open to the process.”

 

Per Coach Peterson, some of the offers include Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Vanderbilt, Colorado, Utah, Boise State, Miami, and USC. The under the radar excitement building around Chuck is pretty amazing. Watching how Chuck’s recruitment process unfolds and how recruiting services finally take to the Vista Murrieta talent will be interesting to say the least.

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: rivals.com; Chuck Filiaga

Photo credit: samoanews.com; No. 66 Chuck Filiaga makes the tackle