Biggest man in the Marmonte

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STATE OF MIND- At 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, Agoura High senior Kevin Graf is one of the top-rated offensive linemen in the nation. He's already committed to USC. Ever since Kevin Graf was a kid he's loved the game of football.

The offensive lineman's dad, Allan, and brother Derek both played at USC. As a youngster Graf wanted to play football, too, but there was just one problem: He was too big.

Due to Graf's size- he was 6foot-5 and weighed 250 pounds by the time he was 13 years old- the local youth leagues wouldn't let him compete due to a fear of him manhandling other players.

"It was very difficult to not play organized football," Graf said. "I don't think I've missed a USC home football game since I was about 4, and ever since then all I ever wanted to do was play football.

"My brother went through the same thing- not being allowed to play in youth leagues. He told me, 'Just wait until high school.'"

Now Graf is in his senior year at Agoura High, and no one can tell him that he can't play. In fact, these days just about every college team wants him on their squad.

The 17yearold Graf is currently ranked by Rivals.com as the sixth best offensive tackle in the nation. AthlonSports.com has him ranked No. 60 overall in its top 100 list of high school players.

Graf, who now stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 300 pounds, also impressed USC, and in October of last year he made a verbal commitment to attend the university in the fall of 2009.

"I pretty much knew I was going to USC if they ever showed interest," Graf said. "I did look at other schools such as Oregon and Notre Dame, but as soon as coach (Pete) Carroll called from USC, I committed right on the spot."

Colleges began to take notice of Graf as early as his freshman year, when he was attending Oaks Christian. Although Graf hadn't played any organized football, he fit in right away with the Lions by earning a starting spot at left tackle.

With Graf on the offensive line, Oaks Christian running back Marc Tyler had his best season in 2005 by rushing for 168.9 yards per game with 39 touchdowns. Graf will once again be Tyler's teammate at USC.

"He was an outstanding offensive lineman, the best freshman I've ever had at that position," Oaks Christian head coach Bill Redell said.

"He hadn't played youth football, but I'm sure he had a lot of help from his brother and dad. He learned very quickly during our practices, and you could tell by the time he was a sophomore or junior he was going to be one of the most heavily recruited linemen in the nation."

The season ended with the Lions winning a CIFSouthern Section Division XI championship, the school's third title in a row.

Graf was on top of the world, but afterward he decided to make a big change by transferring to Agoura.

"Oaks Christian was a great school, but I really wanted to be a three-sport athlete, and my chances of doing that at Oaks Christian weren't as good," Graf said.

"I had a long talk with Coach Redell and my parents about it, and finally we decided it would be best to go to Agoura."

Agoura head coach Charlie Wegher was ecstatic to have Graf in a Charger uniform.

"Kevin's brother played for us at Agoura, so I was crushed when he decided to attend Oaks Christian his freshman year," Wegher said.

"After his freshman year, his parents contacted Agoura considering a transfer. I was really excited because you could always use a five-star recruit on your football team."

While Agoura celebrated, Oaks Christian and Redell were sad to see Graf leave.

"I was sorry to see him go, but it was probably a better situation for him at Agoura," Redell said. "He still could have played three sports for us here, but I think most of his friends were at Agoura, and he'd just be more comfortable there.

"I'd love to have him back, however, if (Wegher) will let me have him," Redell said with a laugh.

Aside from starring on the gridiron, Graf plays on the AHS varsity basketball team as well as the track and field squad, where he competes in the shot put.

It wasn't just a new campus that Graf had to get used to when he transferred to Agoura. After beginning the 2006 season with a 5-0 record, Graf experienced something for the first time in Week 6 of that season- a loss.

After walking off the field in his first 18 high school games as a winner, Graf has had a tough time avoiding losses lately as Agoura has missed the postseason two years in a row.

Graf remains confident, however, that Agoura will make the playoffs in his senior campaign.

"I'm very excited about this season," Graf said. "It looks like we have a very good team, and the guys are working hard to get back into the playoffs."

Although Graf has been heavily recruited at left tackle, Wegher is considering putting him at center, a position he's never played before.

"Playing center is a little different because I'm used to being in a twopoint stance, and at center you have to be in a three-point stance," Graf said. "But I'll play anywhere Coach wants me to play. I just want to help the team win."

Wegher said he's considering moving Graf to center because half of Agoura's schedule is against teams that play an odd-front style of defense, and Wegher wants to neutralize the middle of the line.

D.J. Bancroft, a senior at Agoura who also transferred from Oaks Christian after his freshman year, is trading off playing center and left tackle with Graf. Bancroft said that wherever he ends up playing, he knows Graf will make him better.

"I'm very happy to be playing next to him," Bancroft said. "I mean, nobody is ever going to get by him. He makes me a completely different player."

Wegher said that even though Graf is already committed to USC, the Agoura lineman is focused on the task at hand.

"When Graf first came here, we talked about how he would eventually be heavily recruited," Wegher said. "I preached to him to be here until he was done and don't think about the next step until you've finished the one that lies in front of you.

"He's done a great job of focusing on this season and keeping his ego in check. He's a great kid, and he doesn't consider himself any bigger than anyone else on the team. He's just one of the guys."