Radovich Gives His Game a Lift

It’s the classic tale of boy meets weight room. Drew Radovich arrived at Mission Viejo High three years ago as an awkward, wiry freshman, fretting every time he looked in the mirror.

“I had this body with no purpose,” he said. Today, he is one of the highest-prized offensive linemen in the country, with eight Pacific 10 Conference teams among those offering scholarships. Radovich credits his maturation to an extensive weight-training program, part of the motivation provided by his veteran line coach.

At first glance, Radovich’s 6-foot-4 1/2, 270-pound frame is his most obvious asset, but his quick feet and flawless technique are what separate him from other top linemen.

“People have asked me how good Drew is compared to some of the good ones I’ve coached,” Mission Viejo line coach Marty Spalding said. “I tell them he’s as good as anybody. He’s very athletic and fast enough with his feet that he can get off the line quicker than anyone I have seen.”

That quickness helps give Radovich the leverage needed to knock defenders off balance and move them out of the hole. “You’ll give up 60 pounds to a player and still win the battle,” he said.

Radovich opened running lanes the last two seasons for fellow All-Southern Section players Robbie Dubois and Ryan Powdrell, who graduated in June.

Radovich, who didn’t play tackle football until his freshman year, compared his early blocking technique to that of a bowling ball barreling down a lane.

“I just went out and hit people,” he said. “I didn’t know who to block and didn’t know the concepts. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t.”

After his uncertain debut, Radovich discovered the rewards of weight training, which not only boosted his strength and increased his weight by about 100 pounds during the last three years, but improved his balance and quickness.

“Once I hit the weight room, everything began to change,” he said.

Radovich also found a trusting mentor in Spalding, who has coached alongside the Diablos’ head coach, Bob Johnson, during four Southern Section championship seasons at Mission Viejo and Lake Forest El Toro.

“[Spalding] has this presence that when I’m around him, I want to impress him,” Radovich said. “The main thing that made me so good is his coaching ability. I’m so blessed to be coached by him. I don’t know how my college coaches will be, but I think he’ll always be my main inspiration.”

Radovich is the physical leader of an offensive line that’s expected to be one of the best in Southern California. The only area in which Spalding would like to see his protege improve is leadership.

“You cannot have a good football team that is not led by seniors,” Spalding said.

Last year, it was easy for Radovich and others to work quietly in the shadows of talented seniors who led the Diablos to an undefeated season and a Southern Section Division II title. Now that they’ve graduated, Radovich understands that he needs to be more vocal.

Radovich has already helped to inspire at least one teammate. Three weeks ago, he and fellow lineman Nate Wimber were descending steps leading to the beach when Wimber stepped on hot coals.

Wimber burned portions of his feet, but Radovich talked him into attending a voluntary conditioning program three days later, insisting it was the perfect opportunity to make a lasting impression on the other players. “That showed good leadership on both our parts,” he said. “People were listening.”

Wimber said he has been impressed with Radovich’s leadership skills since preseason practices began last week.

“He has become pretty vocal,” Wimber said. “He was kind of quiet last season, but this year he has kind of opened up.”

Radovich proved his toughness last season in the Division II championship game against Chino, playing with a broken hand, suffered the week before against Alta Loma.

While attending to the hand, doctors took a look at Radovich’s skeletal crystal ball, the space between growth plates that can help to predict a person’s eventual height. Radovich said his doctor thought he would grow another two to three inches.

That’s more good news for the dozen or so schools that have already offered scholarships, as well as those on the verge of doing so.

Radovich said he has no timetable for his college decision. He’s just looking forward to his senior season.

“Now is the time to stay healthy and have fun,” he said. “Everything else will take care of itself.”

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*--* How They Rate Rating the top offensive linemen in the Southland SOUTHERN SECTION Player, School Ht Wt Yr Comment 1. Drew Radovich, Mission Viejo 6-4 1/2 270 Sr A punishing drive blocker 2. Ryan Kalil, Servite 6-3 265 Sr Has committed to USC 3. Sam Baker, Tustin 6-5 300 Sr Impressive size, strength 4. Travis Draper, Paso Robles 6-5 260 Sr Stood out at UCLA camp 5. P.J. Irvin, Agoura 6-3 290 Sr Has committed to UCLA 6. Kyle Gunther, Camarillo 6-4 275 Sr Rising prospect after strong summer 7. Hercules Satele, L.B. Poly 6-3 250 Sr Anyone named Hercules must be strong 8. Robert Gustavis, North 6-4 280 Sr Pursued by Pac-10 Torrance schools 9. Chris Piligan, Hart 6-5 270 Sr Watch him dominate in Division II 10. Cesar Rodriguez, Bishop Amat 6-7 240 Sr Mobile, tough, fearless 11. Alex Gottlieb, Valencia 6-5 280 Sr Will open holes for Charles Burnley 12. Jake Thompson, Redlands 6-5 265 Sr Could be best blocker in Division I 13. Iulio Talavou, Fountain 6-5 310 Jr Top prospect for Valley 2003 14. Steven Bautista, Mater Dei 6-2 275 Sr Solid, dependable blocker 15. Brent Masada, Temescal 6-4 300 Sr Strong, flexible Canyon and gets job done 16. Blake Smith, Ventura 6-1 341 Sr A big, strong guard 17. Ryan Sorensen, Newbury Park 6-5 300 Jr Could be a top recruit 18. Mike Senella, Alemany 6-2 250 Jr All-Del Rey League pick as sophomore 19. Brian De La Puente, San 6-4 290 Sr Key to helping Clemente aerial attack 20. Dylan Storey, El Modena 6-4 270 Sr Returning all-league pick 21. John Sidhom, San Dimas 6-3 270 Sr Team captain can be dominating 22. Mark Gray, Loyola 6-1 280 Jr Next top Cub blocker 23 J.D. Probasco, Buena 6-4 298 Sr Team’s best player 24. Zach Verdin, Westlake 6-3 275 Sr Will be Marmonte League standout 25. Aleks Blagojevich, Serra 6-3 295 Sr Big and moves well 26. Chris Boblit, Esperanza 6-4 265 Sr Known for his pass blocking 27. Chris Rodarte, Cajon 6-2 275 Sr Returning all-league guard 28. Preston Clover, Laguna Hills 6-4 265 Sr Was all-section last season 29. Nick Peterson, Oxnard 6-4 275 Sr Two-time all-leaguer 30. Brian Abraham, Rancho 6-6 255 Jr Future Division I Cucamonga recruit 31. Jon Simpson, Edison 6-3 260 Sr All-Sunset League last year 32. Luke Lamipeti, Hawthorne 6-4 320 Sr Made positive summer impression 33. Dave Obrand, Torrance 6-2 290 Sr Has strength, agility 34. Hosea Nau, Don Lugo 6-2 313 Sr All-league center CITY SECTION 1. Jeff Palacios, Fremont 6-3 270 Sr Returning All-City selection 2. Philip Cerda, Birmingham 6-1 280 Sr Watch him clear way for Dennis Keyes 3. Cristian Medina, Sylmar 5-10 250 Sr Leads five returning linemen 4. Norris Malele, Carson 6-4 270 Jr Should be top prospect for 2004 5. Emmanuel Sanchez, Granada 5-11 255 Sr Leader of Hills outstanding group 6. Kevin Myers, Manual Arts 6-4 340 Sr Size matters with him 7. Victor Vasquez, Fairfax 6-7 380 Sr Three-year starter 8. Louis Solis, Sylmar 6-5 305 Sr Has tremendous physical ability 9. Manuel Oliva, Bell 6-3 275 Sr Center with strength 10. Trevon Knox, Washington 6-1 254 Sr Best player on team 11. John Lazar, Monroe 6-4 293 Jr Smart, tough and improving 12. Gabe Govea, Fremont 6-0 275 Sr Three-year starter 13. Eddie Gola, Grant 6-2 260 Sr Lancers’ next All-City lineman 14. Clifton Stanford, Jefferson 6-3 280 Sr Will open many holes 15. Derrick Cooper, University 6-2 270 Sr Effective pass blocker 16. Corey Schubert, Cleveland 6-1 240 Sr An Ivy League candidate 17. Saul Aguilar, Belmont 6-2 242 Sr Center made all-league 18. Seti Aulai, Carson 6-2 265 Sr A guard with mobility Eric Sondheimer

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