Santa Maria TE Troy Artopoeus using all available options to prove D-I talent

The growth of football into a year round sport at the high school level has taken flight in recent years. With the advent of the internet the ability to promote various aspects of football in the offseason has helped push the sport forward in numerous ways. Individualized coaches have emerged as go-to guys, various camps help instruct while pitting regional talents against on another, and we have witnessed the berth of 7×7 tournaments.

Not everyone is completely sold on 7×7 tournaments or 7×7 teams with many football coaches comparing the activity to AAU basketball, a hindrance and a help depending on which side of the fence one leans. For football players 7×7 tournaments help skill players on offense and the back seven on defense develop their craft in a non-tackle setting during the offseason. For some players like Righetti High School tight end Troy Artopoeus it is a must.

College recruiters would only think Troy could catch a cold if it were not for 7×7 tournaments. The Santa Maria, California talent has played in a run-first offense long perfecting the art of run blocking on the high school level. During Troy’s 2014 season he was third on the team in receiving with seven receptions for 91 yards leaving little reason for college recruiters to look his way. But thanks to Team B2G on the 7×7 Tournament circuit, the 6’4”, 220 pound, recruit is getting looks from several colleges like San Diego State, Arizona State, Northern Arizona, and Cal Poly.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Troy going over his 2014 season, how 7×7 tournaments have helped his exposure, and how his recruiting is shaping up ahead of the 2015 season.

 

Troy, I know California high school playoff formats are different. The Warriors ended up with a 4-7 record after a first round loss in the playoffs. Going into the season I’m sure you guys were thinking playoffs but then had a couple of tough setbacks. How did the team stay focused on the goal of making the playoffs during the 2014 season?

“In the offseason we felt really good had our returning quarterback back. We had a very heavy senior squad. I was really excited about it. Against Ventura we did not do too well but then we went on a huge win streak getting three in a row. Then we got into league and we kind of fluctuated. Then all the sudden in our next league game seven or right of our starters got injured. It was a huge shot.

“At first our whole defense was all seniors at the end it was all juniors. We really fought hard on offense and on defense we just lost so many key components at big positions that it was hard to regain our momentum again.

“We made the playoffs because our league was so dominate throughout CIF. One of the other teams in our league ended up winning CIF, Paso Robles, and another team Atascadero made the semifinals. We showed promise early in the year carried us into the playoffs.”

Based off all the guys you lost during the season last year and the talent that has graduated guys like quarterback Connor Regan, your top two running backs Andy Cooper (568 yards) and Eli Wilkinson (473 yards), and top receiver Steven Spadarotto 69 receptions, 1002 yards, 8 touchdowns, how do the Warriors replace that kind of production in 2015?

“We have two returning running backs, Deandre Thomas and DJ Freitas, who balled out last year. We got another returning receiver who missed a little time last season. They’ve been bouncing me back and forth between receiver and tight end. We’ll see how I fit in there during the season.

“Defensively we had a lot of juniors and underclassmen playing last year. We have found guys that can come back and fit into that rotation who are ready to go. I think we’ll be good. I think we’ll be a powerful team.”

Will the Warriors make the playoffs in 2015?

“Yes sir. I believe that.”

Have you looked ahead to your schedule for next year? Have you started thinking about playing your big rival school in 2015?

“We have four teams in our league but the one that really stands out is St. Joseph’s. They are actually right across the street. It’s a private school. We play against them in the preseason, it’s a very big rivalry.”

I’ve never heard of a preseason game being a team’s big rivalry game but it makes sense.

“Yes sir, we don’t have any teams in our league that are in our city. Our rivalry with St. Joseph’s is really odd.”

Walk me through that, how does the preseason game go between the two schools? What is the pageantry or taunting that goes on between the two schools leading up to the game?

“It’s against all the kids we grew up around. We always see them on the street or at social events. We all get out of school around the same time so we all see each other. We’re all friends so it is a friendly but bitter rivalry on the field. It’s been really intense the last few years. It’s always a good game and has been really close the last couple of years.”

Do you take turns playing one year at your school then one year at their school?

“It goes back and forth.”

Do you go into their locker room to get ready or do you get ready at your stadium and then walk across?

“We get ready at our home then walk across the street in our uniforms. They have police cars lining the intersection and we cross there. Pretty much the whole city comes out to watch it. That’s the biggest game of the year.”

What are your strengths on the field at the tight end position?

“I definitely see myself as a receiving tight end although the stats won’t show it. One minute of my highlights is filled with receiving and the other three minutes is filled with blocking. I’m definitely versatile at that position. My hands are stronger than ever now. I’ve been working with them throwing with quarterbacks, just getting ready in preparation for getting the ball a lot more this season. I was on Team B2G the last two off-seasons.”

Which B2G team do you play on?

“I’ve played on Team Crazy the last two years. I’ve played tight end with them the last two years. I’ve had a great experience with them and it’s been a lot of fun.”

What makes you a strong blocking tight end?

“I play the offense with a defensive mindset. I don’t see tight end as a non-aggressive position. I try to be as violent, quick, and aggressive as I can. I approach it like I am making the tackle or I am making the big hit. I make a big block that lifts the guy a few inches off the ground.”

With all of the injuries that occurred last year did you mix in on defense some last year?

“Last year I was rotated in some. Last year we were throwing kids all over. On third down sometimes they would throw me in as a pass rush end. The next week I was starting at strong safety. We were testing kids everywhere when the injuries came. I’m looking at playing as an outside backer this year. All my coaches think it’s a great idea. I’ve been taking reps there. Some of the colleges locally have been interested in me playing outside backer as well as tight end.”

So, safety… a 6’4”, 220 pound, safety coming at you, did you kill anyone last year playing safety?

“(Laughing) Against some of the run-first offenses I came closer to the line so I was basically playing linebacker with a safety title. It wasn’t like I was in a Cover-2 or anything.”

I didn’t know. I wanted to make sure after you get 10-15 yards of steam and then cleaning someone’s clock. Onto the next question, what are your goals for the 2015 season?

“My team goals I’d like to take the league. I like us to be a close tight end group that is respected on and off the field. League is No. 1 and I definitely want us to get a playoff berth and I want to take it as far as we can with that. In all the years I have been around we’ve never won a CIF title. It would be pretty awesome to bring the school that banner.”

What about your personal goals any lofty stat lines?

“I want more receptions. I think I had seven receptions and was third on the team in receiving. I want around 60 receptions.”

Have you been on any unofficial visits yet?

“I’ve been to Boise State, Miami, Notre Dame, and UCLA.”

How did the Boise State visit go?

“It was great. It was my first visit. I went with my family. They have a great facility. I was really impressed. They have an amazing home winning atmosphere. The students are crazy there.”

How did the Miami visit go?

“It was great with Team B2G. It was more of a team visit not a one-on-one. It’s beautiful out there too. We had a tournament out there so we dropped by it. I was very impressed with Miami’s facilities and their long tradition and a lot of history especially through the late 90’s and early 2000’s.”

How did the UCLA visit go?

“That was also with B2G. We had a personal tour with them. It was great there. It’s one of the more local colleges I’ve visited. It was nice to go to a California university especially one as prestigious as UCLA. We got to watch the spring practice there. It was really cool to see how intense their practices are. It was like a full contact game out there.”

Was Notre Dame a B2G visit as well?

“Yes sir.”

How did that go?

“It was one of the more traditional ones. Everything in there has so much history, all the national titles and the legends that have gone to Notre Dame.”

Did you get to go into the locker room?

“I did. The game day locker room was stellar. I mean it’s crazy looking around, looking at that hall that goes down seeing the signs and how everybody hits them differently. It’s so rich in tradition, it was unreal.”

How have all of these schools that you have visited and have shown interest left recruiting with you?

“All of them want to see my senior season. All of them want me to come to their camps but I have a stress fracture in my foot that will keep me out until early July. That’s slowing me down right now but I can’t wait to get back out there.”

What are the different schools telling you they like about your skill set?

“They like my hands. I got a lot of love from the IMG film I put out. It’s a very physical film. I got a lot of love off that because of my hands and for my blocking with my other highlights. It’s nice to be able to merge the two together.”

Let’s backtrack a little, how did the stress fracture occur?

“I think it was just over training. I got so inspired after all of these unofficial visits I started working a little too hard. I was running hills twice a week and lifting twice a day. I got overhyped on it. I’ve learned my lesson on that. It might be a blessing in disguise.”

With your workouts, have you maxed out lately in bench and squat?

“I maxed out at 315 and I squatted 415 before the stress fracture. I’m sure I’ll be able to ramp back up to that quickly when I get back at it in a couple of months.”

What is your plan with offseason workouts to prepare for your senior year once the stress fracture is healed completely?

“I’ll be a full go around July 21, that’s our baseline. That means I have about a full month until Game 1. I’m going to come back with my team and be ready to go. I’ll do a bunch of speed training and weight lifting. I’ll work with our quarterback, it’ll be good.”

Will you take any unofficial visits this summer just to meet with the coaches?

“I’m thinking about San Diego State, maybe Arizona State as well.”

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

“I want to major in finance and I want to go to law school whether it’s at that school or somewhere else. One of my goals is to practice sports law and be a sports agent.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“I love catching the ball. It’s my favorite thing in the world. I really like the team. I like having a group of brothers around me I can count on both sides of the ball. It’s amazing.”

 

Troy has a very pivotal senior season coming up but has all of the tools to be a big impact player for Righetti High School in the passing game which will make him an impact recruit for some lucky team as part of the 2016 recruiting class. Another thing that will help Troy land at the next level, besides his talent and physical gifts, is his 3.8 GPA. Being a true student athlete makes Artopoeus a complete package for Division-I college coaches.

 

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: Righetti High School; No. 83 Troy Artopoeus (right).

Photo credit: Troy Artopoeus at Notre Dame.

Photo credit: Troy Artopoeus at Miami.