Flat Out the Best : USC-Bound McGuire of Servite Draws Raves from Coaches, Recruiters

The recruiting of Servite offensive tackle Joe McGuire ended before it began in April, when McGuire told heartbroken college coaches everywhere he was going to USC. But that didn’t stop the scorned suitors from paying their respects.

“Wisconsin offensive coordinator Bryan White called and said Joe was the best high school offensive lineman he had ever seen,” Servite line coach Ed Drzanek said. “He knew he had no shot, but he just wanted me to know that. He said Joey reminded him of the offensive linemen USC used to have in their glory days.”

There were others who called Drzanek with the same kind of compliments after seeing film of McGuire, The Times’ Orange County Lineman of the Year.

Tustin Coach Myron Miller said his defensive linemen are still trying to figure out what happened.

“He would just pick up our tackle, run with him a couple yards and then throw him into the safety,” Miller said. “I labeled him a ‘flat-backer’ for the way he flattened people.”

Miller knew McGuire would be trouble on a football field when he saw how easily he maneuvered around a basketball court.

“He was posting people up and moving pretty well for somebody with that frame,” Miller said. “He was a presence out there.”

McGuire became even more of a presence on the football field once he got a taste of the next level. Drzanek took McGuire and a few other linemen to USC and UCLA practices.

“It was amazing how mature he was,” Drzanek said. “Joe just sat there and sized everyone up. He thought to himself, ‘So this is the level I have to get to.’ ”

McGuire acknowledged that those practice sessions changed the way he approached his senior year.

“I knew I could play against high school players, but I didn’t know what it took to play against college guys,” McGuire said. “The challenge of competing against better players really motivated me.”

How good was McGuire this year?

“His skills are beyond that of any high school kid,” Drzanek said. “It was almost boring how good he was. He was our player of the game on film five times.”

Servite’s offense wasn’t very complicated and with McGuire, it didn’t need to be.

“There’s not much strategy needed when all you have to do is run dive plays behind the tackle,” Miller said. “They had 180 yards against us just on that one play.”

But McGuire could do more than pound defenses into the ground. El Toro Coach Mike Milner said McGuire’s pass-protecting techniques were right out of a textbook.

“He uses his hands so well to disengage himself from the defender and he has such great body awareness,” Milner said. “He’s a product of some outstanding coaching. The kid just doesn’t make mistakes.”

The kid doesn’t miss a meal either. You don’t get to be 6 feet 6, 280 pounds by skimping on portions.

“He’s the most disciplined football player I’ve ever seen,” Drzanek said. “You could feed half of Ethiopia with what he eats, but he doesn’t eat fried foods or junk food.”

What does he eat?

“A lot of chicken, steak and eggs, fruit and bread,” McGuire said. “I probably eat a loaf of wheat bread a day.”