OC MVPS: Santa Ana’s Drew Ramirez, a ‘tough as nails’ star, prepares for next chapter

Santa Ana’s Drew Ramirez joins his teammates for the school’s alma mater after a game in 2018. (File photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

(Second in a series)

Drew Ramirez made quite an impact at Santa Ana High School, earning All-CIF honors on the Saints football team which went 10-3 in 2018 and had a memorable run all the way to the CIF Division 8 semifinals.

He totalled more than 2,000 yards in offense for the squad, which won the Orange Coast League title with a 5-0 mark.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo:

Ramirez played wide receiver and defensive back and teamed up with Patrick McMorris and other key players for a winning season.

He was also an all-league player on Santa Ana’s boys basketball team that year, competed in baseball and when he had time, ran hurdles for the track and field team.

Besides being talented, Ramirez displayed all the characters of a team player and displayed extraordinary work habits, earning him recognition as our second Orange County MVP. Ramirez was also an outstanding student with a GPA of over 4.0. Ramirez joined the University of Utah football program last season as a preferred walk-on.

“Drew Ramirez was probably one of the most special kids that I have ever met,” said Santa Ana Coach Charles TeGantvoort. “His impact on our football program and entire school, was evident almost over night. 

“Drew transferred to Santa Ana High School during the spring of his junior year after starting for the Orange Lutheran High School varsity football team the previous two seasons.  I have never seen an entire football program accept and follow someone so quickly.  He came in and within the first week he started his own 6 a.m. workout group as well as a homework club at lunch time.

“His teachers right from the start gushed about how much they loved having him their classes.  Drew is one of those people that made you feel grateful that you were the one that got to have him in class or on your team.  He also was a true player-coach on the field as well. 

“He would call out all of the defensive and offensive plays for us, and could always be found taking the younger players on the team to the side to help further teach them our plays.

“Besides all of these amazing character qualities, Drew was also extremely talented and as tough as nails.  He played the game like the old school great players that thrived on physical contact and pushing his body to the absolute limits in anyway that would help his team win. We had lots of talent on the Santa Ana Saints football team during Drew’s senior season, but Drew was the one that pushed all of those really good players to be really great players.  There is no way we would of beat teams like Fountain Valley and Temecula Valley without Drew Ramirez pushing all of us to be our best.

“Drew ended up getting lots of academic financial assistance to go to college because as good as he was on the field and as a person, he was an even better student. His GPA and ACT scores were at the top of his class, which opened up over a dozen Universities that wanted him for his academic abilities as well as his football abilities. 

“Some of these universities were Columbia University, University of San Diego and the University of Chicago, but he ended up deciding to continue both his academic and football playing career at the University of Utah, which made his head coach really happy since that is were he played as well. 

“He spent this year as a grey shirt, so he still has a redshirt and four years of eligibility left.  No matter what Drew ends up doing in his life, I can 100 percent guarantee he will be successful. Drew Ramirez is definitely a true example of the opportunity and excellence that exists at Santa Ana High School on a daily basis.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com

LOOKING BACK, APRIL 2019:

Santa Ana High’s Drew Ramirez excels as a four-sport athlete and a top scholar