Super Bowl 2014: Latinos on the Line

American football is not a sport that often highlights the talents of Latino athletes at the professional level, however, it is worth noting that American football is played in Mexico. Most Mexican colleges have an American football team, and in the lower ranks there are more than 10,000 youths playing American Football in the city of Monterrey alone.

When the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos take to the field for the Super Bowl, there will be two Latino linemen who have walked a similar path to the big show, both hailing from Texas Tech, both playing on the line of scrimmage, and both wearing consecutive numbers for the Denver Broncos: No. 65 Louis Vasquez, and No. 66 Manny Ramirez.

Vasquez has seven years of experience in the NFL to Ramirez's five, but both played their college football days at Texas Tech. As Red Raiders, both set records in the weight room and both were local recruits, having grown up in the Lone Star State.

Both players shared similar paths to the Broncos team, starting with strength achievements which are highly coveted by offensive linemen.

At the 2009 NFL Combine, Vasquez bench pressed 225 pounds 39 times. His 39 repetitions were the highest of any participant at the combine. Vasquez was drafted in the third round (78th overall) by the San Diego Chargers Vasquez is originally from Corsicana, Texas. Vasquez was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers. Vasquez signed a four-year deal with the Denver Broncos in 2013.

Ramirez set the school bench press record in 2003 by pressing 525 pounds. Ramírez tied that record the following year. In 2005, Ramírez broke his own bench press record by pressing 550 pounds at the Annual Texas Tech "Night of Champions." Ramirez is originally from Houston, Texas. Ramirez was originally recruited by the Detroit Lions. Ramirez was signed to the Denver Broncos in 2011.