John Ramirez '21 Recruiting Profile

My goals for college other than football are still up in the air.  I just entered high school.  Perhaps I will go into communications and follow my dads footsteps in advertising.  Maybe it will be in the sciences. I really enjoy my honors biology class.  Perhaps its medicine. It's too early to know for sure which direction I will choose.   I am keeping my choices open for now.    My plan is to take as many honors and AP classes as I can and push myself to learn and gain new experience during the next four years.  

My dad went to USC and of course I grew up watching all the games.  I was even brought home from the hospital in a USC jersey.   I would love to go to USC and have the experience he grew up with but as I learn more about college and playing football, I want to go somewhere that I can play, where I can contribute and equally important where I can learn and get a degree.  If thats USC that would be great. If its somewhere else...that would be fantastic too.

As for being a good candidate for a team.  My parents say that my love of the game spills out to those around me and that my dedication is infectious to those who feel the same way about football.  I believe in honesty, loyalty and putting maximum effort in at all times to fine tune not only my craft but also those around me.  Pushing them to be better today so they perform better tomorrow.   My commitment to continuous improvement is unwavering.   And when that doesn't get a team excited, I am genuinely a happy even keeled guy...and when I get on the field for practice or a game....its just going to be magical for all my team mates, you have to fun doing what you love.

Dedication and commitment are often just words but I grew up wanting to be a Quarterback and began training very early with various coaches including Chris Rix of ESPN and Champion Training Academy fame.  As well coach Matt Bechtel of QB Field Generals and head coach at South Hills High School.  One thing I know for sure is great coaches are the reason I love football and I have had some excellent coaches so far.

I had played many sports: baseball, basketball and soccer.  Still have an amazing curve ball.  But I love football.

My dad recognized several years ago that I had what he called "lead feet".   For the past three years I have been running hills and training with a running coach John LeJay three days a week.   I went from one of the slowest to one of the fastest so its been and continues to do wonders.  Hill training is 11 months starting in January and concluding in November.   I take the end of the year off to have fun watching bowl games and things when the hills are full of mud.   I enjoy the runs so my plan will be to try out for track next year and attempt the hurdles.  

During  off season Saturdays I try to spend 2 hours on throwing mechanics with Kyle Kianpour - South Hills High School QB Coach.   Fundamentals of footwork, arm movement and agility.  What I learn on Saturday is concentrated on all week with passing practices - 150 reps per day during off season 6 days per week.  My dad got sore fingers from catching the ball so I have had to recruit friends that are now my teammates at Rancho Cucamonga High School.

One day a week during the off season I work on fundamentals - working with Coach Lawrence Cleghorne of South Hills High School.   

This sounds like a lot of work but its more a labor of love.

During my first season at Rancho Cucamonga High School, I still run hills, still do my fundamental training and get passing practice in 3 days a week on top of the normal high school practices.   People ask me why I work so hard and I tell them, I love the game, I love the process and I just want to be the best.

With all this work you would think I don't have time for other things but of course I do.  I fly and compete with RC planes.  My favorite is still the P51 Mustang.  I get to the air soft park and have a blast competing in squad raids.   I ride bikes and do all the things a normal high school kid does, even play video games.   But given the choice...I will be on a field with a football.