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Eric Sondheimer
February 9, 2009


They're underrated, and overlooked, by football recruiters

Talented, accomplished players who don't fit the physical mold colleges are looking for often fall through the cracks on letter-of-intent signing day. Case in point: Garfield's Lanny Delgado.


On letter-of-intent day, there were slick news conferences, big celebrations and lots of picture taking to capture the moment of teenagers' officially accepting college football scholarships.

For Lanny Delgado, a two-time All-City defensive back at Los Angeles Garfield High, Wednesday started with trying to fix the family computer, followed by a trip to the laundromat to wash a uniform, then an appearance in a soccer match, where he scored a goal in a 3-2 loss.

"I didn't even know today was letter-of-intent day," he said.

He didn't have any reason to pay attention, because no coaches offered him a scholarship.

"He didn't know, because no recruiters have talked to him and no one has shown any interest," Coach Lorenzo Hernandez said.

They didn't notice or didn't care that he more than held his own covering USC-bound De'Von Flournoy in two games last season.

"He's a good player," Flournoy said. "He plays with a lot of heart. He didn't back down, which I respected the most."

At 5 feet 11, 150 pounds, with 40-yard speed of about 4.6 seconds and grades that saw him receive an A in AP calculus and an A in trigonometry, Delgado would seem a good candidate to help a college football program.

"I'm still puzzled," Hernandez said. "This is a guy with a 3.6 GPA and played solid defense."

Unfortunately, there are lots of successful high school players who go unnoticed or unappreciated by college recruiters. Another is Josh Brannon, a running back at Garden Grove Pacifica who rushed for 2,175 yards and scored 22 touchdowns but had no takers at the next level.

People can place blame on lack of exposure or failure to impress at camps or combines, but the bottom line is football recruiters know what they want, and if you don't fit into their mold, it will create obstacles to reaching the next level.

"I'm dedicated and convinced I can take on a higher level," Delgado said. "I'm fast enough, I'm quick enough and I'm strong enough."

Hernandez keeps making phone calls and sending out tapes, hoping someone will see something special in Delgado, a three-year varsity standout.

Perhaps Delgado, Brannon and others who didn't sign letters last week will get a chance to play after enrolling at a college as a walk-on or making it through the junior-college ranks.

It's frustrating, but opportunities come to those who don't give up.