By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
After a successful high school football season, two talented players from Brownsville will show what they can do on a national stage.
St. Joseph Academy’s Kai Money and Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Gustavo Vasquez will both attend the U.S. Army National Combine that starts today and continues Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
The U.S. Army National Combine, according to a statement on its website, is held annually in association with the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and is the first opportunity for the nation’s top underclassmen to demonstrate their physical talent and compete against one another before high school and college football’s top scouting organizations.
Both Money and Vasquez were nominated by Leroy Moya, the team director for Football University in the Rio Grande Valley, an organization that runs a variety of football camps for various ages and keeps an eye out for the top talent in the area.
Money led the Bloodhounds to a 9-3 record and the second round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual TAPPS state champion Dallas Bishop Lynch. The junior quarterback finished with 1,348 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 157 carries and threw for 1,275 and another 16 touchdowns to lead a potent SJA offense that averaged 486 yards and 41 points per game.
The invitation was welcomed news for Money, who was disappointed he didn’t get an invitation after his sophomore campaign.
“I’m very honored to be invited,” he said. “I’m excited and anxious to perform to the best of my ability.”
Vasquez, who helped the Chargers to an 8-3 record and a share of the District 32-5A crown, finished with 167 carries for 1,216 yards and 17 touchdowns. The junior athlete also passed for 504 yards and three touchdowns and caught seven passes for 137 yards and a touchdown for an offense that averaged 340 yards and scored 29 points per game.
It was surprising news to Vasquez, who received the notification by email, but he was thrilled nonetheless.
“I was in shock, but I was pretty excited, too,” he said. “It was unexpected.”
Moya informed both coaches of their player’s invitation in recent weeks.
“It’s a big deal for us,” SJA coach Tino Villarreal said. “Anytime St. Joseph is put out there it’s because we’re doing something good. That’s always a positive for our school. As a coach, I’m happy Kai is getting the recognition he deserves. I’m very happy for him.”
BVM coach David Cantu was also happy to receive the good news.
“This is the first time I’ve had someone go to this,” he said. “So I’m grateful because it’s bringing recognition, bringing exposure to players down here. Gustavo represents the players in Brownsville and in the Valley. There are a lot of fantastic players down here that are committed, love the game of football and have a lot to offer.”
The pair will showcase their talent in a variety of tests and drills, including the 40-yard dash, the pro shuttle and the 3-cone shuttle, similar to the NFL’s combine ahead of the annual draft.
As a quarterback, Money will throw to tight ends, running backs and receivers during 1-on-1 competition, and Vasquez, who will participate as a running back, will run routes against linebackers during 1-on-1 competitions during the combine.
Both players see this as a start to their offseason workouts and preparation for their final high school season.
“I need to make the most out of my reps,” Money said. “I’d like to PR in my 40 time and my vertical and shuttle as well.
“This will get me back into the groove and starts the camping season for me. This will lead into the summer and start building on my game once again.”
Vasquez hopes to learn more about being a running back.
“I’m nervous, but excited, so different emotions,” he said. “I want to learn as much as I can and get the best out of it that I can. I think it will be good to know where I’m at.”
Both Cantu and Villarreal know they have talented players, but hope the event helps each realize they can compete at the next level.
“I think he’ll realize that he does belong,” Cantu said of Vasquez. “He, and Kai as well, can compete against people across the nation. For (Vasquez) to go where he wants, he’s going to have to work hard and I hope an event like this makes him even more hungry for that, to shoot for the stars and go for something really big. I think it will be exciting for him.”
Villarreal hopes the combine increases Money’s visibility for college coaches.
“Hopefully he can show people what we already know down here,” Villarreal said. “He’s humble, so sometimes Kai doesn’t believe that’s he’s as good as I think he is. I think being around that stage will help him.
“I’m a believer that success breeds success. Any time you’re in a competitive environment, it’s going to bring out the best in you.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.