La Serna’s Jordan Bonilla shown here at the Charter Oak Tournament last May.
By George Hernandez
(Whittier) – I sat down and talked with La Serna athlete Jordan Bonilla who came into the program as a quarterback and now plays all over the field for the Lancers. He is an all-leaguer in the Del Rio League and an all CIF running back and defensive back.
Bonilla was a part of the 2023 state championship run for La Serna and was the leading rusher and had 85 tackles and two interceptions as a junior this past season.
Q: What’s up kid, how’s it going?
A: Going good right now – just focusing on school and football.
Q: How does it feel to be recognized as one of the top returning players in the area?
A: It feels great just knowing that my hard work is paying off.
Q: Your brother Anthony was a dude at El Rancho. Why did you choose La Serna?
A: I chose La Serna because of the environment and the brotherhood they have. I also wanted to have my own legacy and make a name for myself.
Q: Who do you model your game after?
A: I model my game after my cousin Angel Diaz. I always went to his high school games and watched him play when I was young.
Q: How would your teammates and coaches describe you?
A: My teammates would describe me as a hard worker and someone who puts the team first.
Q: You’ve went from QB to playing all over the field. How difficult was that?
A: I have been playing all over the field since I was young and the coaches helped me also.
Q: What is the biggest lesson you have learned from football so far?
A: The biggest lesson I have learned from football is discipline and taking accountability. Also how to overcome adversity.
Q: How do you handle the pressure of playing in high-stakes games?
A: I usually pray before games which helps me calm down. I also watch film and break down what the team’s favorite concepts are.
Q: I know you’re only a junior but what are your goals for after high school? Do you want to keep playing?
A: I want to keep on playing football. Hopefully playing division 1 football and graduate at that program.
Q: Anything else you would like to say or want us to know?
A: Look out for Etoagwara Onyenegecha and Xavier Nunez. We lost them last year due to injury but they will have a great impact this season.
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@PJ
Definitely a high character kid. That’s why he went to a high character school like La Serna, with
high characters coaches and high character teammates. You can’t blame a kid for not wanting to get
blown out by La Serna 55-0 every year playing at El Rancho. Don’t be surprised to see this kid performing
well at the college level after a big Senior year.
Maybe he will follow in the footsteps of former La Serna player
Owen Long who lead the nation in tackles as a true sophomore @CSU
and just transfered to Arizona St.
Anyway if you live in the Whittier, SF Springs, Pico Rivera, Montebello,
Norwalk or La Mirada area and you play football, why would you not
play for the top football program, with the top coaches in the area,
the La Serna Lancers #1. What a great place to go to school.
Ever since JB started high school, all people talk about is his height. And we all know why because they can’t say a thing about his game. He’s not short, he’s average. But his game? That’s 6 ft.
Pioneer has 12 D1 prospects.
Division 1 is not everything, especially if the high school phenom (or great player) has not proven ‘combine d1 assets! D2 /NAIA offers good scholarships especially with athlete /academic success
imo ? are you a self appointed genius?
Crazy how people read the whole article and only focus on D1. Let him aim as high as he wants. This write up was about this coming football season. So let’s focus on that. The fact is He’s one of the top players in the area, and anyone who’s actually watching knows that. I know it, you know it, and he knows it.
From T. Peterson: Exactly.
Info Please,
Looks like someone is trying to hype up the 6ft+ current starting QB on that LS roster!
If this kid played in that championship game vs PV, LS would’ve won by at least 2 scores… what a shame.
It’s a hard truth that D1 and professional scouts won’t even consider anyone that doesn’t measure at least 6 feet and weigh at least 175 pounds. No matter the heart and enthusiasm of smaller players, the hitting dished out by D1 and pro athletes will wreak havoc on their anatomies. Boxing has different weight categories for a reason, and we need to recognize that with the slamming that goes on in football, a minimum of 6 feet and 175 is necessary to survive the brutal environment of big-time football.
From T. Peterson: “Won’t even consider?” Barry Sanders, Drew Brees, Darren Sproles, Wes Welker, Steve Smith Jr., Bob Sanders, Maurice Jones Drew, Antoine Winfield, Tyrann Mathieu and London Fletcher were all under six feet. Heck, Sanders was 5’8″ and MJD was 5’7″. Sproles was 5’6′!. “Won’t even consider” is way off the mark.
OK, I’ll bite by asking Tim what are these multiple factors that scouts will be in love with, in the absence of size and speed? The upper levels of football are populated by guys who were the standouts on their prep teams, but guess what? They’re all much bigger and faster than 90% of high school ballers. I certainly cast no aspersions on Bonilla, but in the interest of not wasting anyone’s time, it’s critical to know if this kid is anywhere near the physical dimensions demanded by the next level.
From T. Peterson: I honestly don’t know what he runs in the 40. Never busted out the stop watch at passing league. I don’t know if he’s D1 but he can definitely play at the next level. (College level). This kid can flat out play. By the way I’ve seen kids that are 6’4″ and meet all the qualifying times in the 40 but can’t make a tackle or catch a pass. Although those factors may be important there are other intangibles involved.
The tranfer portal and JUCOS are where D1 colleges fill their rosters these days. Small guys are rare unless you run a 4.3 forty.
The story of Jordan Bonilla, one of the best youth Quarterbacks I have ever seen, smart, good arm, fearless, takes care of the football, doesn’t make bad decisions, had the ability to read any defense and slice it up. This kid had the chance to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in area history and as the story goes over and over year after year was given bad advice from the wrong people. In todays football world most kids who walk into a bad situation leave almost instantly, this kid is such a high character kid that he managed to make lemonade out of s**t and stuck it out at La Serna a place where he was never really wanted until they saw how valuable he was. I will always root for this kid for that reason alone and wish him all the best in his final year of football.
From T. Peterson: Every time I’ve seen this kid play he has been impressive. Whether it was in helmet and pads or in a passing league he stands out. This guy can flat out play. Right now he’s one of the top players in the SGV. He can play at the next level. No doubt.
Tell me this kid’s size and time in the 40 and I’ll tell you if he will be playing at the next level.
From T. Peterson: There’s a lot more factors then just that.
High character individual and a great young man.