Hard-Nosed Style Is Dean’s Forte

After having his nose broken for the second time in two weeks during a spring football camp in April, Jake Dean didn’t see the injury as an excuse to stop and take a break.

Instead, the Lancaster Paraclete senior offensive lineman viewed it as his opportunity to shine.

“I was going against someone, and the kid didn’t move, and he went to hit my hands off, and socked me right at my nose,” Dean said. “I kept playing through it, though, with blood coming down my face.

“It hurt, and I felt it. But it was either sit on the sideline and act like a girl, or get back in there and show them that you’re tough and that you can play.”

Onlookers at the camp at El Camino College, including coaches from many high-powered Division I programs, took notice, but his high school teammates say Dean’s tenacity and toughness are nothing new.

“He’s so determined,” said quarterback Wesley LaFever, a transfer from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. “Every play, he just takes his guy, and I don’t even have to worry about it. What he tells me is, if that guy’s not on the ground after every play, then he didn’t try hard enough. You just follow him and you feel safe.”

Dean, a 6-foot-4, 272-pound right tackle who committed to UCLA in May, is among the top offensive linemen in the Southland.

He also is the leader of an experienced line intent on reviving Paraclete, which has lost two first-round playoff games in a row. The Spirits won consecutive Southern Section Division championships in Divisions XI and XII from 1997 to 2001 and lost in the Division XI semifinals in 2002.

“That’s one of our main goals as a senior class -- to bring back the championship before we leave,” Dean said.

That may prove difficult because defending champion Westlake Village Oaks Christian looms as the Division XI favorite and will be among the best teams in Southern California. Still, Paraclete is glad to have Dean, who is also a two-year starter at third base for the baseball team.

“Jake is the most hard-working person on the team,” said running back Joel Medina. “He has so much drive just to play the game. He loves it.”

Dean benefits from 5.0-second speed in the 40-yard dash and strength that has recently increased because of a new weight-training regimen implemented by second-year Coach Dan Lyon.

“I’ve always been pretty tall, but I’ve been chubbier in the past,” Dean said. “I move a lot better than I did last year. I feel myself getting to blocks faster.”

Dean constantly reviews game film and easily picks up the fine points of line play from Lyon, who spent 13 seasons as the offensive line coach at Ventura St. Bonaventure.

“Jake’s as good as, if not better than, anyone that I’ve coached,” Lyon said. “He’s going to do great things in college.”

A studious approach has helped Dean learn from his mistakes and experiences, even nasty ones such as the broken nose.

“It hurt, but then again, it also made me think about my technique a lot more,” he said.

“If I’m out there just trying to hit people, my nose is going to get busted. But if I’m doing the right thing, then they’re not going to get close, so it made me work on my form.”

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How they rate

A look at the top offensive linemen in the Southland:

City Section

*--* Rk Player, School Ht. Wt. Yr. Comment 1. Jovon Hayes, Dorsey 6-3 325 Sr. Three-year starter 2. Zack Heberer, San Pedro 6-5 275 Sr. Committed to USC 3. Daniel Mafoe, Carson 6-4 315 Sr. All-City honoree 4. Pedro Xochipa, Roosevelt 6-3 309 Sr. Ready to dominate 5. Sean Middleton, Fremont 6-3 270 Sr. Headed for All-City season 6. Mitchell Schwartz, Palisades 6-5 280 Jr. Making steady improvement 7. Bryan Armendariz, 6-3 310 Sr. Big man on campus Huntington Park 8. Raul Sanchez, Garfield 6-3 270 Sr. Three-year standout 9. Tim Martin, San Pedro 6-2 295 Sr. Two years all-league 10. Tony Hernandez, San Fernando 6-3 300 Jr. Has a lot of potential 11. Will Ross, Jefferson 6-2 260 Sr. Can be a physical player 12. Earl Miles, Hamilton 6-3 320 Sr. An intimidating blocker 13. Juan Marquez, Poly 6-0 330 Sr. All-Sunset Six League pick

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Southern Section

*--* Rk Player, School Ht. Wt. Yr. Comment 1. Jake Dean, 6-4 272 Sr. Has feet, body, Paraclete strength to excel 2. Romney Fuga, Edison 6-2 270 Sr. A terrific blocker 3. Sean Sheller, 6-5 265 Sr. Talk of summer Walnut combine circuit 4. Joe Hawley, 6-3 275 Sr. Standout in the Esperanza Sunset League 5. Colin Baxter, 6-4 290 Sr. No one pushes him Peninsula around 6. Shane Hitchcock, 6-3 250 Sr. Two-way standout San Luis Obispo 7. David Burton, 6-2 270 Sr. Likes to mash Mission Viejo linebackers 8. Bobby Judo, Yucaipa 6-6 280 Sr. Returning all-leaguer 9. Brandon Bennett, 6-4 340 Sr. Committed to UCLA Bishop Amat 10. Sam DeMartinis, SO 6-6 250 Jr. Future big-time Notre Dame recruit 11. Joe Dembesky, Oaks 6-5 268 Sr. Protector of Jimmy Christian Clausen 12. Steve Lea, Rancho 6-3 290 Sr. Standout in Inland Cucamonga Empire 13. Jimmie Carmack, 6-5 300 Sr. Should be dominant Palos Verdes blocker 14. Jon Griffin, 6-1 235 Sr. Fulfills his Ventura assignments 15. Dylan Gross, Morro 6-6 290 Jr. Should be Bay all-section honoree 16. Travis DeRead, 6-4 290 Sr. Ready to return Ontario after injury 17. John Konye, Redondo 6-4 280 Sr. Wrestler who knows football 18. Weston Vock, 6-3 327 Sr. Key blocker for Lakewood running attack 19. Garth Gerhart, 6-2 280 Jr. Comes from family Norco of achievers 20. A.J. Nichols, 6-3 260 Sr. Highly regarded by Carter coaching staff 21. Jonathon Summers, 6-4 314 Sr. Quality blocker Loyola 22. Andrew Roxas, St. 6-3 270 Jr. Has strength and Francis agility 23. Steve Anderson, 6-3 252 Sr. Must come through St. Bonaventure for Seraphs 24. Aaron Gross, CC 6-2 240 Sr. Could be best in Canyon Foothill League 25. Cory Elmore, Grace 6-4 250 Sr. Athletic, smart and Brethren tough Compiled by Eric Sondheimer

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