Courtesy of Osiris Lopez
We had a chance to catch up with Leominister quarterback Osiris Lopez after his commitment to Coastal Carolina. Lopez talked about why he committed to Coastal, why he stayed at Leominister despite pressure to transfer and his upcoming senior season.
Here is our interview with Osiris Lopez.
NEFJ: Why did you commit to Coastal Carolina? What appealed to you about the school and the program?
OL: “I committed to Coastal Carolina because I felt comfortable with all the staff there, I could be myself around them and they didn’t really try to pitch their school. Coaches were real about everything and just were themselves. I liked that about them. I felt as if I fit the system and knew from my first visit that I could see myself there.”
NEFJ: What is the staff’s timeline in regards to you getting an opportunity? Have they given you any indication of what their plans are?
OL: “I will be enrolling early in January so I’ll have the playbook and getting into the system early. Preparing me for the fall. I bet on myself so I can get a chance to earn that starting spot. I’m not afraid of a challenge or competition. I thrive on that, it only makes you better at the end of the day so I am going to get better in the weight room, the classroom and the field. We’re gonna have an explosive offense.”
NEFJ: How much has Leominister prepared you for this opportunity, specifically Coach Gates and the coaching staff.
OL: “I think Leominster as a staff has definitely prepared me for the next level. HUGE Shoutout to Coach Canterbury, that’s my guy!He has honestly taught me a lot throughout my career at Leominster. Me and him would spend so much time on the whiteboard during practices while defense was doing Indy. To go over coverages, alignment, lingo, fronts, tells, reads, and things to counter all those things. Coach (Head Coach Devin) Gates and the staff have taught me a lot throughout this whole recruiting process. Huge thanks to them. Finally, Coach Smith in the weight room. We have been building my body for the next level. Everyday we are in there working on things to better me for the next level and to be ready for a college weight room. Coach Smith has got me working out right now on a college weight room schedule. Couldn’t be more grateful for the entire staff at Leominster. They have done so much for me.”
NEFJ: You mentioned in your announcement that public school recruits can play in college. As long they work hard and do what it takes. Why have you embraced being the face of public school programs when it comes to recruiting?
OL: “I mentioned that anyone can make it if you just work hard enough. I said this because I have had so many people come up to me starting in 8th grade saying that private school is where I need to go. I have been told multiple times that being at a public school wasn’t going to be good for me. That flipped a switch in me to just prove everyone wrong and prove my self right, I’ve been saying this for the longest time now that MASSACHUSETTS has BALLERS everywhere. From public school to prep schools to private schools. Not to bash the private school coaches or guys there. I love all of Mass for real. There is this narrative that if your at a public school, you are not going make it at D1 or at the next level and that’s just not true at all. You just gotta get your self out there make a name for your self. Shoutout all the slept on public schools guys that are working hard or harder everyday then some of the private school kids
NEFJ: You had offers closer to home. Was playing closer to home ever a consideration? Or was it always about fit?
OL: “I didn’t really care about proximity to home as long as the school could get me to the next level and I fit the system. It was fine with me and to be honest, I didn’t really want to stay here in the cold and stuff. I wanted to get out of the state and area and meet new people, new culture and new traditions.”
NEFJ: What is your message to kids who there who see you shine every Friday night and have the same dream you had?
OL: “One message I have to those kids is get to camps meet people, introduce yourself to everyone in a room. You never know who knows who, one meeting could change your life. Work hard to achieve your goals and manifest it. Hit the gym now, build your self up. You can have all the talent in the world but if your not working hard it will go to waste. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. That is one of my favorite quotes. You just gotta want it more than everyone else. Surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you. START EVERYTHING NOW!! Don’t wait until tomorrow or the next week or next month. DO IT NOW!!!”
NEFJ: Finally. What do we have in store for us this fall? What can we expect from you and the Blue Devils?
OL: “Leominster is coming out firing this year, woke the whole state up last year now we gonna show them to stop sleeping on us in D1. We are contenders this year. Best believe that. We want it badly this year. A lot of the younger guys stepping up this year and they are going to make a name for themselves too. BDN NATION.”