Becoming a Big Catch

Mike Seidman has looked the part of a big-time Division I football player for three years.

Now he gets to step on campus.

Seidman, 6-feet-5, 235 pounds with not an ounce of fat to be found, has taken recruiting visits to UCLA, USC and Colorado. He will visit Arizona State on Jan. 15.

“UCLA told me I’d play as a freshman,” Seidman said. “I’ll probably choose between the two L.A. schools but I’ll go on all the trips before I decide.”

As a sophomore, Seidman, The Times’ Ventura County lineman of the year, would have debuted on the varsity, but a knee injury kept him out all season.

He came back with a vengeance, starting at tight end and making 51 catches for 728 yards and two touchdowns as a junior.

Those numbers were eclipsed this season. Seidman had 54 receptions for 806 yards and six touchdowns.

In addition, he became an accomplished defensive end.

Offense, however, is in his future.

“Everybody is recruiting me as a tight end,” he said.

No wonder. Seidman’s hands are as soft as a violinist’s.

“For his size, Mike has incredible hands,” Coach Jim Benkert of Westlake said. “His mobility and athleticism make him a top prospect.”

Seidman was a preseason All-American and one publication listed him as the nation’s top senior tight end.

Benkert often split out Seidman to isolate him with a linebacker. On a team with several excellent receivers, the big guy with deceptive speed had the most catches.

“When your team looks to you to make the big plays, you want to do the best you can,” he said. “I always go 100%. I wanted to catch the balls no one thinks can be caught.

“And on defense, I wanted to run down the ballcarrier nobody thinks can be caught.”

Seidman hadn’t played defense extensively until this season.

“I got crazy when I played defense and I loved it,” he said. “I really had fun making tackles and getting into a whole separate mentality from offense.”

It’s obvious Seidman enjoyed his senior season.

“I can’t even explain it, I love football so much,” he said. “It was such a fun season. The team was cool because we all got along well. We were like a big family.”

Many of Seidman’s best friends are juniors. Regardless of where he plays in college, he plans to return to Westlake on Friday nights the way former Warrior players Craig Walendy (UCLA) and Billy Miller (USC) have in recent years.

“I liked all the juniors and I hope next year they’ll win it all,” Seidman said. “I’ll definitely be cheering them on.”