Auggie Sanchez looks for opportunity
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From Just across the bay, in St. Petersburg, Auggie Sanchez has watched the USF Bulls all of his life.
"My brother went there," Sanchez said. "It's one of those schools that I always wanted to go to".
Sanchez' brother, Armando Sanchez played three years for the Bulls before an ankle injury ended his career.
Now, like his brother Armando - Sanchez gets a chance to step into the inside of the Bull Ring.
Sanchez is a two-star rated defensive end that moved to middle linebacker. Northeast coach Mike Jalazo called 'insanely smart'.
"he's a real mentally aggressive kid," Jalazo said. "He is insanely smart on the field and off. He does so many things."
Sanchez missed most of the summer camp/combine season last year, with an illness, but recovered and played at linebacker.
Sanchez recorded 18.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in his junior season from the defensive end exclusively.
Jalazo moved to Sanchez to middle linebacker to fill a void for the Vikings.
"We lost two of our best tacklers to graduation and Auggie is one of the best tacklers we had," Jalazo said. "He picked up the position very fast."
As a middle linebacker, Sanchez didn't blitz very much, but did make 183 tackles - including a career high 23 tackles against the Manatee Hurricanes in the first round of the post-season.
This will be the first official visit for Sanchez, who has offers from Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Marshall and Ohio.
Sanchez didn't do the combines, or the camps - or anything else that normal juniors do - and that may be what's holding him back - according to Jalasco.
"He wasn't out there this summer, so he didn't really get seen," Jalazo said.
Jalazo said interest in the 6-foot-2, 215 pound athlete has heated up.
"I can tell you - I coached Riley Cooper (former Florida receiver) and Colin McCarthy at Clearwater Central Catholic," said Jalazo. "Auggie ranks right up there with them," Jalazo said. "I'd put him on equal footing."
"Recruiters see him on film and are amazed at just how big he is," Jalazo added. "He's physically very strong and add that with his intelligence and you've got a field coach."
"I'm a very hard worker. I'll work harder than anyone," Sanchez said "I am willing to prove myself and learn a new position."