GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Senior Diego Rodriguez starts his typical practice day at 4 a.m. After a stop at McDonald’s for oatmeal, he arrives at Weslaco High around 5:30 a.m., just after coach Tony Villarreal and well before many of his teammates wake up for the Panthers’ 8 a.m. practice.
“I just zone in for practice, put on music and prepare my mind for the upcoming day,” Rodriguez said.
As the season draws closer, he starts to use that time for film and scouting reports. This week, he’s been digesting Richmond George Ranch, a squad that went undefeated in 2015 en route to a Class 5A Division I state championship.
For Rodriguez, a player with all-state potential and hopes of playing at the college level, the Panthers’ season opener at 7 Friday night at Bobby Lackey Stadium in The Monitor’s Game of the Week will be a proving ground.
“I would say you have to play well, and not only play well, but I think you have to win,” Villarreal said. “The place is going to be packed, and I think we have to execute. They’re looking for the glue that keeps the group together, and Diego is that.”
Rodriguez has been a starter in the defensive backfield since midway through his sophomore year. Villarreal said Rodriguez played a critical role in the 2014 defense notching a shutout win against Harlingen High in the playoffs, and he continued to step forward last season.
As a junior, Rodriguez made 117 tackles with 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions.
“He’s a real athletic and explosive player,” senior teammate Jordan Nichols said. “He’s an all-around good player. I don’t see any flaws with him.”
Villarreal praises Rodriguez’s mentality and approach above anything he brings physically. He describes Rodriguez as a humble, driven student of the game — the son of a former middle school coach in the Weslaco system.
He also praises Rodriguez for his intensity and passion, saying “his heart is through the roof.”
“We’re never going to have another Diego,” Villarreal said. “You get them just once in a lifetime.”
While Weslaco boasts a wealth of defensive returners in the front seven, the secondary is filled mostly with new pieces. But Villarreal says Rodriguez mitigates any concerns about inexperience, given his diligent film study and ability to keep his teammates properly aligned.
Working with the newcomers throughout two-a-days, Rodriguez encouraged them to stay loose and find a comfortable stance. He describes himself as a motivating leader, trying to lift his teammates up rather than being overly critical.
“We’re not bad in the secondary, because Diego is directing traffic,” Villarreal said. “When you have a guy like Diego who is in the weight room, and you were probably a No. 2 guy last year, and he takes you and he says, ‘Hey lets go work out’ … he’ll make them.”
In preparing to chase his season goals of 120 tackles and 10 interceptions, Rodriguez put in two-a-day workouts on his own over the summer, trying to improve his strength, speed and conditioning.
He originally figured on Sunday as a rest day, but his plans quickly changed.
“That was tough,” Rodriguez said. “Sitting down and just thinking there’s somebody out there working harder than me. I had to just get up and work out again. It was rare to have a rest day.”
Rodriguez aims to play in college, and he’s been in contact with Texas A&M-Kingsville and UTSA, among others, although an official offer has yet to come his way.
At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds with a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, Rodriguez has the physical tools to play at the next level. He regularly works to bring the mental side of his game along, as well, staying up until 1 or 2 a.m. watching Hudl highlights from bed.
When he found out Weslaco was facing George Ranch in Week 1, he quickly started looking on Twitter to learn more about the Longhorns. One of the profiles he went through was quarterback Antonio Jackson, who coincidentally ended up on the same flight as Rodriguez to Cancun for vacation.
“We went to Mexico and we got off, and we were right next to each other,” Rodriguez said. “I was like, ‘Hey, you’re from George Ranch, right?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’ And I said, ‘I’m from Weslaco. We got ya’ll Week 1.’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, yeah?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, man. Be safe, so I can see you Week 1.’”