Interview with Georgia Class of 2016 Hidden Gem, RB Jordan Argilagos

Written by Ryan Wright

Year after year the state of Georgia is absolutely loaded at the high school level with future Division-I talent. In 2015 some of the best players in the nation will come out of the Peach State, guys like Julian Rochester (McEachern HS), Demetris Robertson (Savannah Christian), Nigel Warrior (Peachtree Ridge HS), and Zerrick Cooper (Jonesboro HS). One of the main differences between the aforementioned and running back Jordan Argilagos is opportunity.

Whatever the playing circumstances may have been for others, Argilagos’ journey has been slowed by splitting time in the backfield, but that will change in 2015. Last season the 5’10”, 180 pound, speedster picked up over 700 yards rushing and over 100 yards receiving on 90 total touches. On average Argilagos produced a touchdown with every 12th touch he was given making college coaches take notice.

Three colleges have offered the budding Wesleyan High School star; Harvard, Columbia, and Dartmouth. Schools like Appalachian State, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern and nearly every other Ivy League school have shown interest but like many other Division-I schools most coaches are taking a wait and see approach to recruiting Argilagos.

What Argilagos has in store for opposing Georgia defenses and for college coaches will be well worth the wait. Even though Jordan is on the medium side as running backs go, this Norcross area talent has great field vision, has good hands, nice balance on his cuts with quickness out of his moves, and runs surprisingly hard. A way too early and unfair but worth noting comparison is former Florida State running back Warrick Dunn.

Dunn played at the college and NFL level listed at 5’9”, 187 pounds. Argilagos, like Dunn, has an allusiveness that is instinctive not taught. Both are also fast on fast. Dunn ran his 40-yard dash coming out of college in the 4.3 range. Argilagos, entering his senior year, runs in the 4.4 range. Another similar thread is in the passing game. Dunn was an excellent all-purpose back utilizing his speed and hands in the passing attack to get one-on-one opportunities against a given defense. Ditto for Argilagos.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Jordan to go over his 2014 season, his offseason workouts preparing for his senior year, and got the inside scoop on his recruiting situation entering the 2015 season.

Interview
Jordan, everyone wants to start and be the man. Last year must have been difficult in some ways splitting time at running back. Having to be patient through that process what did you learn from your role on the team in 2014?

“Splitting time really taught me that you have to make the most of every opportunity with the ball in your hands. I’d go out there every play and think in my head I’m going to score here. That was the mentality that I had, never go to the ground, keep your feet moving, and just try to help out the team as best as possible. I knew I wasn’t getting as many reps so I had to do the most I can with the reps I have.”

Looking ahead, how do the Wolves look going into the 2015 season?

“We look really good actually. We’re definitely going to be competing for a state title. We have like 25 returning seniors. We’re in really good shape.”

I would say so, 25 returning seniors, that’s great. Have you looked at the 2015 schedule yet and if so is there a game or two on the list you’re excited to play?

“Oh yeah, there are definitely two or three teams. The first team is Pace (Academy – Atlanta). We beat them last year in overtime (23-17). I scored the winning touchdown. I’m really looking forward to playing them. They always come out really hard. GAC, Greater Atlanta Christian, is our biggest rival. We’re always looking forward to playing them and then Lovett. They are our second biggest rival.”

What are your goals for the 2015 season now that you are the starting running back?

“My biggest goal, the whole team’s biggest goal, is to win a state championship. I’m going to do whatever that takes. If that means we don’t run the ball as much but we throw the ball more that’s fine with me. I just want to win the state championship basically.

“Personally, just to go out there and have a great senior season. I want to have a better season than I had last year. Since I will have more opportunities I want to keep capitalizing on those opportunities that I have. I want to do the most I can to help my teammates out and win a state championship. That’s it.”

What are your strengths on the field as a running back?

“I’m a lot more allusive than most, that’s No. 1. On top of that I have a hard time going to the ground. It takes multiple people to bring me down. I’m not going to go down on the ground with just one hit. I don’t run over people but I don’t shy away from contact. I can run up through the middle of the defense and break one out. I’d say my speed is really what gets them the most.”

 

Will you play other positions in 2015 other than running back?

“I’ll play a lot of corner. I’ll definitely play corner and I’ll be in the slot. They’re going to let me line up in the slot and catch some balls. I’ll return the football on kick returns. Corner and slot are the two other positions that I’ll play.”

What have you been doing in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“Since we lost last year in the playoffs I’ve pretty much have worked out everyday through track and basketball. Towards the beginning of the summer I started signing up for all the football camps. I’ve attended like seven camps this summer. I’m done with camps but I attended seven this summer.”

Are you doing any specific workouts focusing on speed and agility?

“I go to a speed and agility clinic. It’s called You Too Fitness. I go to workouts at school everyday. Our strength and conditioning coach has speed and agility drills for us. I’ve been doing that on top of it.”

You mentioned playing basketball and running track, what position did you play for the Wolves in basketball?

“Shooting guard and point guard.”

What type of player are you in basketball? Are you an outside shooter or are you a slasher?

“I’m more of a slasher. I’m definitely going to the goal getting contact and trying to get a layup. I like to draw the fouls.”

What events do you participate in with track?

“The 400, 100, 200, 4×1, and 4×4.”

Jeez, is that it?

“I ran a lot. Track is the sport after football that I’m best at.”

What is your fastest 400 time?

“50.26.”

Did you qualify for state in any of the events?

“I qualified for the 400, 4×1, and 4×4.”

You’ve been to seven camps and have three offers.

“Yes sir.”

The three offers are Harvard, Columbia, and Dartmouth?

“Yes sir.”

Which schools are showing interest in you right now that have not offered you yet?

“A lot of Ivy League school and schools like Wofford, Citadel, Elon, App State (Appalachian State), Georgia Southern, and at one point Georgia Tech but not that much anymore.”

Have you taken the ACT yet and if so do you have a score you don’t mind sharing?

“I scored a 27.”

Do you have a cumulative GPA you don’t mind sharing?

“3.2”

Have you been on any unofficial visits yet?

“Yes, I’ve been on a couple. I’ve visited Richmond, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Dartmouth, Columbia, and UPenn (Pennsylvania).”

How did the Dartmouth trip go for you?

“It went really well. The field is really nice and the facilities are really nice. The team is up and coming. I think they were 8-3 or something like that last year. I have a friend that is going there so. Coach (Sammy) McCorkle (associate head coach – special team coach) showed me around. He was a really good host. I really liked it. Their uniforms are nice. Everything is just pretty good there.”

How did Richmond go for you?

“It was my first unofficial. Just like Dartmouth, they had really good facilities and the field was really nice. The campus is like my school campus so I was used to it. It wasn’t too big, not a lot of students. I won’t get that distracted. It was really nice. The coaches are awesome. It was cool.”

Which camps did you go to this summer?

“I went to Wofford, Furman, Citadel, App State, Columbia, UPenn, and Harvard.”

What did you learn from the various camps that you will carry with you into your senior year?

“I really learned to stay low. That’s a big thing. Staying low and how you make most of your cuts and how you explode off the ball. Another thing was protecting the ball when going through the hole. Making sure you have two hands on the ball when going through the defense. Those are two big things for me.”

What is your time frame on making a decision and verbally committing to a school?

“I’m thinking between October and – towards the end of the football season, maybe in December.”

What are the main factors you will consider in choosing a college?

“For starters I want to have a place where when I leave the college I’ll have a job ready for me. I want to get a good degree. I’m definitely big on education. That is No. 1. The second thing is probably the campus and the size like how many students go there. I don’t want to be consumed with things that will distract me. The third is probably the social life I guess. How do I enter act with the other kids that go there? Do feel like I fit in if I were to go to school there.”

What do you want to major in when you go to college?

“Either business or engineering.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“I just like how track is an individual sport but football is a team sport. I like how you build relationships with it. If you make a mistake your teammates can pick you up. It doesn’t solely depend on you it takes the whole team to complete a goal or a task. I really like that aspect of it.”

Photo credit: Jordan Argilagos; No. 19 Jordan Argilagos