By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It isn’t hard to locate Del Rio’s Manuel Padilla on a football field.
The junior defensive lineman, and sometimes tight end, wears number 10, stands 6’ 4” and weighs 278 pounds. But don’t be fooled by his size. His speed getting into opposing backfields and his strength bringing down ball carriers has made him one of the top defensive players in District 30-6A and Southwest Texas.
Padilla has been playing football for 14 years and has been a member of the varsity Rams team the past two years. He’s made an impact this season, ranking among the team’s leaders in sacks and tackles for loss.
His optimism was evident when discussing the team’s prospects before the season began.
“I feel like we had a great start to the preseason. We have been dominating in our scrimmages and I feel like that is step one to a good year,” Padilla said.
While things haven’t gone the Rams way so far this year, Padilla said there have been some positive changes in terms of the way the team carries itself both on and off the field.
“I think the biggest chance is the intensity and the strength of the team,” Padilla said.
Football may play a part in Padilla’s life after high school, but if it doesn’t he already has his sights on life after the Friday night lights go out for the final time.
“I plan on going to college. I want to study petroleum engineering” Padilla said.
As for those collegiate football dreams, Padilla isn’t giving up hope just yet.
“I don’t have any offers, but some schools I’d like to visit are UTSA, UIW (University of the Incarnate Word), and TCU,” he said.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
