http://sportsstarsoftomorrow.com Like SSOT on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sportsstarsoftomorrow Follow SSOT on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SportsStarsTV He's one of the best defensive linemen in America, and Joey Bosa is the leader of St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the country's best high school football programs. Some footage provided by HeritageFilms.net: https://www.youtube.com/user/AquinasPlayers?feature=watch As the Florida state playoffs continue, we'll check in with one of the state's best players at one of the state's best programs. St. Thomas Aquinas high school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida has established itself as one of the nation's premier high school football programs over the last 20 years. While the program has produced some great players like Brian Piccolo and Michael Irvin, in its early years, the Raiders have been truly dominant since 1992. They've captured six state titles and two national championships since then. They have also had more players drafted into the NFL in the last five seasons than any other high school in the country. The star of this year's Aquinas team is well on his way to joining that fraternity. Joey Bosa's a six-foot five, 270-pound menace on defense and he's versatile enough to play any position on the defensive line. "I have a combination of speed and quickness, but I also have the size and the strength so that's really most of the time you only see a smaller really quick guy or you see a big strong guy who's not that quick, but I think I have a good combination of both." [Joey Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) Defensive Lineman] "His length and his strength, explosive. We run a three-four scheme he can play pretty much across the board, tackle, nose or end, which is sometimes you're in a one sometimes you're in a three, sometimes you're in a five, sometimes you're in a seven, and he can play them all." [Rocco Casullo, St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) Head Coach] Bosa has the kind of athleticism that really makes his coaches and parents flip out. "Yeah, it's like a circus act." [Rocco Casullo] "Yeah, I just, I don't want to see them anymore. He's banned from those." [John Bosa, Joey's Father] "They see it once and they're like, 'Alright, no more.'" [Joey Bosa] Joey certainly has genetics on his side as his dad, John, and his uncle, Eric Kumerow, were both first round NFL draft picks. Ironically, both were selected 16th overall by the Miami Dolphins, Bosa in 1987 and Kumerow in 1988. John Bosa never pushed his son to play football, but as the years went by it became clear what his destiny was. "If it was anything, I was trying to maybe push him a little bit away from it, only because, you know, the injuries and things like that, had sort of bothered me at the youth level, so I wanted him to play other sports. But he's a passionate football player. He loves football. He's never complained about a 6AM workout or a practice in 100 degree heat." [John Bosa] Joey's commitment to his craft is easy to see as he put himself on a strict diet and he pushes himself and his teammates to uphold the winning tradition at Aquinas. "Joey's one of those guys who you sometimes have to tell him to get out of the weight room, 'cause after our two hour weight room, he'll still be up there working out. He's a leader in the weight room and he's a leader on the football field. Kid's follow that." [Rocco Casullo] "I don't just choose to be a vocal, loud leader. I don't think people follow that as well as just working hard and showing, like, what you can do. Leading by example, I think, is a lot better way than just yelling at some kids and screaming." [Joey Bosa] Joey's committed to Ohio State and, although, this is his last year at Aquinas, the Bosa name will continue, because one of the young players Joey has set an example for is his brother, Nick, a freshman for the Raiders. "I was born to play football, so was he. We played other sports, but football is our sport." [Nick Bosa, Joey's Brother] "Basically, football's my life. I really can't think of anything outside of what I would do if I wasn't a football player." [Joey Bosa] And with his talent and work ethic, Joey Bosa looks poised to remain a football player for a long time.

• published: 10 Dec 2012
• views: 17310