Coaches say it all the time–they want “team first” guys that are “committed to the program and the process”, and guess what? They’re not lying or giving you coach-speak. The players that make the jobs of coaches easier in terms of taking care of the intangibles–on and off the field–are the players that coaches hold in the highest regard throughout their time in coaching. The irony comes that when you ask coaches after they’ve finished their careers who made the biggest impression on them, it’s not always the 5-star talent that got them to the promised-land. Not even close. Often, it’s the ones that simply went out and did their jobs at full speed and with full commitment to details conducting themselves like a football player should. 
A classic example of this would be Alonso’s Obie Cruz. The 6-foot, 200-pounder plays on both sides of the ball for his Ravens and also plays rugby when he’s not wearing the pads. Cruz has been a relentless worker when he wears his school colors and has been an absolute joy to coach while on campus.
Cruz’ production has been more-than-solid for the Ravens, especially the past two seasons. In 2014 as a sophomore, Cruz posted 38 tackles from either the defensive end or outside linebacker position with 30 of those being solo. He also added two sacks and an interception that season. This past season in his junior campaign, Cruz bested that total with 39 tackles–24 solo–and three tackles for loss adding three sacks, a fumble recovery and two caused fumbles. He finished as Alonso’s third leading tackler on the defense and will be their top returning tackler this coming fall.
When you watch him on film, the motor never stops. Cruz finds himself in the thick of the action one way or another and it’s not just a Friday Night lights type of thing–more like, an-entire-time-he’s-been-on-campus type of thing. Offensive Line Coach Greg Callahan supported this assertion. “(Obie’s) a tough kid with a very high motor. If he were three inches taller, he’d be a multiple-stars kid. He’s dependable–don’t think he’s missed a practice, workout or team function since he walked through the door. If we had 22 of him, we’d be state champs.”
Cruz certainly has the skills to make a coach at the next level very happy–if not revered–simply because it’s not about him. Something that tends to get lost in the shuffle of the world of recruiting nowadays.
