Page 44 - 2020 Sollenberger

By Leo Tochterman azpreps365.com
Flagstaff’s Jaramillo no longer just a bruiser
Flagstaff running back Luis Jaramillo reached tremendous heights during his first two seasons on varsity, eclipsing 2,300 rushing yards, 300 receiving yards and scoring 32 touchdowns.
And that’s only on one side of the ball.
Jaramillo, who doubles as a middle linebacker for the Eagles, also muscled his way to 140 tackles (10 for losses), four sacks and three forced fumbles the past two years. He worked tirelessly during this strange offseason to improve every aspect of his game, but the area of greatest focus was improving his speed and agility.
In his last two campaigns, Jaramillo relied a lot on brute force to punish Grand Canyon Region defenders. Flagstaff head coach Todd Hanley spoke highly of Jaramillo’s football IQ as well as his ability to shed contact.
“He’s one of the most instinctive backs that I’ve been around in my coaching career,” Hanley said. “He’s unique. He’s a bulldozer. He’s kind of like a Jerome Bettis-style kid. It’s kind of weird. He’s like a bruiser. He’s just our primary guy. I’ve never seen him get beat one-on-one.”
According to Hanley, lack of speed and agility kept Jaramillo from reaching the next level of development.
But in the early days of summer workouts, Hanley noticed a major improve- ment from Jaramillo in that respect.
“He’s in just tremendous shape,” Hanley said. “He’s just ridiculously faster and stronger than he was last year, and he’s gonna be something really special. He just needed to work on his speed, and he did that.”
Prior to the cancellation of the remainder of the school year in mid-March due to Covid-19, Jaramillo joined Flagstaff’s track and field team to improve on his speed.
Jaramillo believes that this experience will do wonders for his game.
“For me it all started with footwork, getting that footwork up and bringing that agility workout,” he said. “Then, once I got that footwork, we worked on the technique of it all. And the form of how to run. It helped a lot. I’d never done it before. They tweaked little things with how I run, which helped me out greatly, and I expect that to help me in my senior year.”
The 2019 season was Jaramillo’s first under Hanley, who instituted a new RPO system.
Now, in year two, Hanley expects the offense to run much more smoothly. Hanley mentioned that the increased familiarity with the scheme should do wonders for Jaramillo.
“I’m expecting a lot bigger numbers from him,” Hanley said. “Our team under- went a complete overhaul with the offensive system and everything, so I think there were some limitations that had nothing to do with him. Our offense is pretty much going to run through him, so I really expect him to have a lot bigger numbers.”
With Jaramillo shouldering a lot of the offensive load, can Flagstaff’s 6-foot, 215-pound bulldozer continue to consistently punish opponents at middle line- backer?
“He’s in such incredible shape already, if we need him to not come off the field, he can do that,” Hanley said. “I don’t think there are diminishing returns with him. This year I think we’ll need him some more on defense. So we’ll look at the situation and game plan and get him out there if we think we are at a disadvantage.”
Jaramillo is an enormous game-changer on both sides of the ball, but aside from his on-field talent, Hanley also lauded Jaramillo’s growth as a leader in the locker room and overall selflessness.
“He’s clearly a guy that kids look to and that players watch how he behaves because he’s clearly the best guy,” Hanley said. “He was very unselfish in em- bracing that and blocking and getting downfield and knocking guys on their butt when other guys have the ball, and then turning around and playing defense when we needed him, even when he was tired.”
Jaramillo has received attention from colleges (Carthage, Concordia, Mayville State, Puget Sound, Simpson, Western New Mexico) but he plans to play the season out before making an official decision on his next path.
“It’s all exciting,” Jaramillo said. “I’m loving the process. I still have a whole year to make a final decision.”
Hanley and the rest of Flagstaff’s coaching staff gave Jaramillo some lofty goals to strive for during the upcoming season.
“We don’t just want him to be the best running back in Flagstaff,” Hanley said. “We want him to be the best running back in the state, not just the Grand Can- yon Region. He really embraced that. He really wants to play at the highest level, too. We gave him the road map and of course he researched on his own what we thought he needed to do and he’s doing it. I couldn’t be happier. You dream for kids like that.”
While these may seem like lofty aspirations, Jaramillo is confident that he can get it done.
“For me it’s all a mental state,” Jaramillo said. “I got to get it to where I know that coming into the game that I am going to excel and perform at the highest level so I can be recognized as the best running back in the state.”
Flagstaff - 4A Grand Canyon Region
Head coach: Todd Hanley.
Years as school’s head coach: 1.
2019 record: 6-4.
Returning starters on offense, 2019 stats: Sr. RB/LB Luis Jaramillo 6-0, 215 (1,032 yards rushing, 12 TDs; 36 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. OG Seanan Kelly 5-11, 210; Jr. TE/DE Nick Morrow 6-8, 225; Sr. WR Ryan Tagle 5-11, 175 (329 yards receiving, 2 TDs); Sr. OG Ares Van Ness 5-10, 230; Sr. Slot Jace Wetzel 5-9, 165 (380 yards receiving, 2 TDs); Jr. Slot Ethan Ayup 5-9, 165; Sr. C/OT Riley Cartwright 6-3, 245; Sr. C Javon Tochoney 6-0, 235.
Returning starters on defense, 2019 stats: Jr. DE/TE Nick Morrow 6-8, 225;
Sr. DE/OLB Kevin Edwards 6-1, 200 (3 sacks); Sr. DE Lance Smith 6-1, 225; Jr. DT Spencer Smith 6-2, 220; Jr. DT Nick Harju 5-11, 205; Sr. DT/C Javon Tochoney 6-0, 235.
Also keep an eye on: Jr. Slot/RB Gunner Price 5-11, 180; Jr. RB/LB Marcus Salcido 5-7, 170; Sr. QB Morgan Bewley 5-9, 170; Sr. LB/Slot Collin Doucette 5-11, 190; Sr. OLB Zack Morse 5-11, 185.
Strengths of offense: Second year in offensive system, kids understand the scheme. Mobile, high football IQ, QB. Return all region RB Jaramillo 2 year 1000+ rusher. Big play slot receiver and all-region punt/kick returner Wetzel. Deep threat WR Tagle.
Strengths of defense: Whole DL returns, depth at DT and DE. 6-8 DE Morrow, deflects passes, blocks punts pressures QB’s. Very good depth coming up from last year’s JV crew.
Team’s biggest question mark(s): What is our schedule and will we get to prac- tice. QB battle between Sr. Bewley and Jr. Bodie Maier.
2020 expectations: Increase offensive production. High tempo offense. Get into playoffs.
More about program: We strive to show the most effort, enthusiasm and tough- ness of any team in the state. Every day in every way!
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Flagstaff’s Luis Jaramillo can still Jerome Bettis his way through de- fenders, but he’s also anxious to show off his newfound speed this year. (Mark Jones photo/MaxPreps)