Interview: 2018 California DT Aaron Maldonado Uses Exposure Camp to Help Land BYU Offer

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The offseason football camp circuit is set-up to benefit players in two ways, 1) To gain experience playing against other top talent within a given age range while receiving coaching instruction and 2) To gain exposure leading to a scholarship offer. Bishop Amat Class of 2018 defensive tackle Aaron Maldonado has taken full advantage of the early part of the camp circuit picking up key insights to his position and parlaying that instruction into his first scholarship offer.

During the 2015 season, Maldonado got on the field at the varsity level for six games as a starter coming up with 28 total tackles, 18 solo, with three sacks while plugging up the middle so his linebackers could make plays. The now 6’3”, 304 pound, California talent was already getting interest from nearby USC after attending a camp there before his sophomore season earning MVP honors securing a recruiting card in the process.

Interest is sure to start booming for Maldonado as word about his talents start to spread. Maldanado has secured his first scholarship offer coming from BYU and not only has the size all college coaches covet along the defensive front but he also has the strength. Maldonado recently posted a 335 pound bench max, a squat max at 425, and a power-clean max at 275.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Maldonado after a recent Rivals camp to find out how his offseason camp circuit has worked out so far and found out how his offer from BYU was extended.

Interview

Aaron, first, congratulations on your offer from BYU.

“Thank you.”

Before we get into the offer, how did the Rivals camp go for you?

“It went really well. My technique was good and I dominated during the one-on-ones.”

You got your offer in-part based off a coach seeing you work at the Rivals camp right?

“Yes. I was at the Rivals camp and one of the coaches was very impressed with me. He had talked to the BYU coaches about me and then they called and offered me.”

How was the offer presented to you?

“The night after the camp, there were a couple of coaches talking to me one of them was Coach Mori Suesue who talked to a BYU coach (Tevita Ofahengaue – director of recruiting operations) about me. BYU’s defensive coordinator, Coach (Ilaisa) Tuiaki, said he wanted to be the one to give me the offer. It was real nice when he did.”

What other schools are showing interest in you right now?

“Right now Nebraska. I’ve started talking to them.”

What other camps are you going to coming up?

“I’m going to a USC and UCLA camp. At the end of the month I’m going to a Nike camp. Those are the only camps I know of right now.”

Do you have any unofficial visits lined up?

“I don’t know yet. I was planning on going to BYU this weekend for their spring game but it is Easter weekend. I have a big family and we all come together on Easter weekend.”

You are on your spring break this week. Are you doing anything fun over your break?

“Working out and going hiking with one of my cousins.”

Aaron, thanks for your time today and have fun with the rest of your break.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Vince Quinones; Aaron Maldonado in action.