VANCOUVER - As the Thunderbird varsity programs compete in their national play-offs, football, which is still six months from fall camp, has a big challenge of their own. On Friday, Diego Montoya makes his official visit to the UBC campus were it's "all hands on deck" in an effort to showcase the Thunderbird option to this accomplished student-athlete.
Montoya is a young man hailing from Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Mexico. He played football last year for the Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores in Guadalajara. Thunderbird coach
Paul Orazietti discovered Montoya in the 2016 U-19 World Championships held in Harbin, China.
Montoya is a physical offensive lineman, standing 6'2 and weighing nearly 300 lbs., he represents a unique balance of speed, size, and strength.
"My ultimate goal is to be one of only a handful of Mexican born players to play professional football someday," says Montoya. "I feel the UBC option will give me the educational experience combined with the athletic opportunity to reach my goals and potentials."
Montoya has already been accepted into UBC and now it's up to UBC head coach Blake Nill and his staff to try and close the deal. Coach Orazietti will be front and centre in the effort.
"Diego is a highly motivated young man, a physical player, and he was easily one of the most dominant athletes on either side of the ball last summer in China," explains Orazietti. "Our hope is that his interest in the UBC option will benefit Thunderbirds Football immediately."
