As we are just under one week out from the start of the best time of the year, high school football season, things are starting to heat up in the CIF-SS. Rankings are out, Twitter commitment season has begun, and teams are already back in pads. As the Fox Sports West Digital intern, current college offensive lineman, and former St. John Bosco national champion, I have decided to put together a list of my top hogs.
In Southern California, there is no shortage of big talent, so compiling a short list was quite the task; this is my best shot:
First, we have Sal Spina, a senior defensive tackle from St. John Bosco High School. Although his junior campaign was cut short by a torn ACL, Spina has been a dominant force in the middle of Bosco’s defense in his two years of starting.
https://twitter.com/GregBiggins/status/892604971224449025
Holding offers from Michigan State, Colorado, and Harvard, among several others, and a full healthy season, Spina is sure to become one of the west coast, and nation’s, top recruits.
We got to know Sal Spina:
Q: What is your favorite movie or TV show?
A: I have always wanted to be and will forever strive to be Captain Jack Sparrow. The Pirates of the Carribean movies are my favorite of all time by far.
Q: I have to ask, why Pirates and why Jack Sparrow?
A: Well it came down to Captain Jack and Django. Mostly the wit and swagger they both have, but Captain won me with the humor. Curse of the Black Pearl is my favorite, but I think its one of the few series of movies which held its quality all the way through, although I haven't seen the new one yet.
Q: Do you have any odd, cool, or superstitious pregame rituals?
A: I don’t have very odd or exciting ones, but when getting suited up, I must put my socks on before anything else. It’s the usual, though: pedialyte, ice-bath, film, and sleep, I stay away from superstitions.
Q: What are you most excited about in playing college football?
A: Being able to play on such a big stage. I get energized just watching a game so I can’t wait to play in one.
Q: Does having teammates that went on and played on that level get you excited and make you set your goals high?
A: Yes, definitely. My goal is to fill the huge hole that was left by the seniors leaving and keep the reputation of the baddest front seven in the nation. Guys like Jacob Callier [Colorado], Jacob Tuioti-Mariner [UCLA], and Malik Dorton [USC] have set a standard of phenomenal DL play. My goal is to uphold that standard.
https://twitter.com/supasal34/status/675369770821152768
Q: The recruiting process can be trying sometimes, what has been your favorite, or least favorite part of it all?
A: Favorite part has been the coaches I talk to. The stories they have to share that come with their experience are captivating.
Q: And do you have any planned visits coming up soon or expected offers?
A: So far, no. But I saw Harvard and Yale in the spring. I’ve been to Stanford, Washington, USC, UCLA, ASU, and Oregon. The only expected offer is Cal.
Q: You were injured last season, do you think that has hindered recruiting or your play?
A: I feel the best I’ve felt in my four years at Bosco. I'm at a good playing weight which it took me a while to figure out, I'm the strongest I've ever been, and I feel safer and more protected because of all the supplementary excercises I've been doing to keep my knees and body healthy. Cal wants to see how I come back from my injury, and I assume that a few more schools are in that same position of wanting to see how I come back.
