Preseason all-Bay Area News Group high school football: Offensive line
SAN MATEO — When David Bakhtiari, the Green Bay Packers’ all-Pro offensive tackle, visits his favorite hometown breakfast spot, he’s usually the biggest guy in the joint.
That is, with the exception of nearby Serra High School’s current crop of offensive linemen, including their two towering tackles, 6-foot-6 Drew Azzopardi and 6-foot-5 Nathan Elu, on a particular day this past June. The greasy spoon: Christie’s in Burlingame.
The Padre linemen spotted Bakhtiari through the window and asked for a photo. And it was Azzopardi and Elu who put their arms over the shoulders of the 6-foot-4, two-time first-team All-Pro, a 2009 Serra graduate himself.
“We saw a dude in a green shirt and a ponytail, so we knew right away it was him,” Azzopardi said. “We took a picture with him because, like, as O-linemen, he’s the best left tackle in the league.”
“I felt like kind of an alpha move was, when we took the photo, they put their arms over my shoulder,” Bakhtiari recalled in a radio appearance later that week.
Serra oline meets David Bakhtiari pic.twitter.com/hl6Q8gKSHs
— Nathan Elu (@AngeloElu) June 11, 2021
The next day, Serra coach Patrick Walsh arranged for Bakhtiari to visit his alma mater and work out with a group of current O-linemen on campus. For Azzopardi, Elu, junior guard Ryan Silver and Azzopardi’s brother, Nate — another former Serra lineman, now at the University of Idaho — Bakhtiari watched film and gave tips on footwork, technique, even new stretches.
“It wasn’t only blocking maneuvers,” Elu said. “It was stretching, mobility. It was everything.”
“I adjusted my stance a lot,” Azzopardi said. “He told us a lot of inside tips, like how to get off the ball quicker and how to get more depth in our pass set.”
“It was really dope,” Elu continued. “He taught us a lot of stuff we didn’t know. Drew and I have kept a lot of things he said in our minds.”
With the size of Serra’s offensive line comes expectations of equal proportion.
On each flank, there’s Azzopardi and Elu — 600 pounds and 10 Division-I scholarship offers between them. Inside, there’s also Silver, standing 6-foot-3 and receiving college interest. Nico Saenz and Ricky Auimatagi will be asked to step in for departing seniors.
They’ll play a pivotal role opening lanes for dual-threat quarterback Dominique Lampkin and all-threat-everywhere Hassan Mahasin, the Bay Area News Group spring player of the year.
The Padres finished the spring season undefeated, on top of the WCAL and ranked No. 3 in the Bay Area News Group Top 25. But, Elu said, “truly, everybody here knows that during those five games we screwed up a lot.”
“They’re really talented guys … but they really haven’t done anything yet,” Walsh said. “It’s funny, these guys that grow so fast, so young, sometimes they develop late. … Their athleticism has improved so much. … I’m excited to see their improvement from Game 1 to Game 10.”
Walsh, a former running back, is taking a hands-on role in the trenches this season. Brian Wilbur, the offensive line coach the past three seasons, stepped down, so Walsh took on the job himself.
Here’s the real question: Walsh or Bakhtiari — who’s the better offensive line coach?
“Oh, I’d definitely take Patrick,” Elu said. “David Bakhtiari, he’s a great player. But I’d definitely take Patrick Walsh. He’s lived down the street from me my entire life. I wouldn’t want anybody but him.”
PRESEASON ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
OFFENSIVE LINE
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Drew Azzopardi, Serra, OT, 6-5, 317, senior
Aidan Bandes, Pittsburg, OG, 6-2, 250, senior
First-team All-Bay Valley selection in the spring. Older brother Jacob, now at Washington, also starred in the trenches for coach Vic Galli. He’s got about 50 pounds on his younger brother, who hasn’t received quite as much college interest.
Jackson Brown, San Ramon Valley, OT, 6-5, 275, senior
One of the most sought-after line prospects in the region saw his profile rise following a standout junior season anchoring San Ramon Valley’s line alongside guard Kyle Ecker, now at the University of San Diego. Brown’s list of offers has grown to at least 14 and is headlined by Cal, Colorado and Pittsburgh — but USC and UCLA have also shown interest.
Denaris DeRosa, St. Francis, OG, 6-3, 265, senior
Recently committed to San Jose State, where former teammate Hudson Mesa — the Lancers’ starting center last season — is now a freshman. Will team up on the left side with Uluakinofo Taliauli to form one of the more formidable duos in the region.
Nathan Elu, Serra, OT, 6-5, 295, senior
Olugbenga Komolafe, Liberty, OT, 6-4, 290, senior
First-team All-BVAL, second-team All-Bay Area selection in the spring. Rated two stars by 247Sports and holds a scholarship offer from D-II Black Hills State (South Dakota).
Brandon Sousa, Foothill, OT/OG, 6-4, 270, senior
Brings great combo of size and athleticism to anchor the offensive line for the defending EBAL Valley division champions. A “D-I guy … who has the flexibility to be a guard or tackle because he is so athletic,” said coach Greg Haubner.
Derek Thompson, De La Salle, OG, 6-2, 275, junior
The lone returning starter on De La Salle’s offensive line, but coach Justin Alumbaugh says Thompson is ready to step up. Received his first scholarship offer, from Nevada, following a breakout spring campaign.
Uluakinofo Taliauli, St. Francis, OT, 6-4, 270, senior
St. Francis loses one D-I prospect from its line but returns two more, headlined by Taliauli, who grew an inch and added another 10 pounds over the summer. He enters his senior season with five Division-I offers in hand, including from Colorado and Oregon.
Nathan Yore, Los Gatos, C, senior
Returning leader of the offensive line unit for the SCVAL De Anza division champions in the spring. “He is very intelligent and runs our offensive line,” coach Mark Krail said.
Watch list: Mattias Dominguez, Oak Grove; CJ Falevai, Pittsburg; Soane Fassolo, Menlo-Atherton; Elijah Klock, Campolindo; Nehemiah Musika, Valley Christian; Diego Reyes, De Anza; Carlos Ruiz, Half Moon Bay; Jason Schwartz, Leigh; Cole Sullivan, Hillsdale; Banipal Yaro, Leigh