Mission Hills Alemany’s Akeem Gonzales takes his assignments personally

Offensive linemen are the knights of the football field. They’re big, strong and entrusted with protecting the quarterback, no questions asked.

Akeem Gonzales, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound left tackle from Mission Hills Alemany, takes his assignment personally when it comes to watching over quarterback Vernon Adams.

“When he’s on the field, he’s like my mother,” Gonzales said. “I wouldn’t want anyone to hurt my mother, so I wouldn’t want anyone to hurt him. I’m around him 24/7.”

Adams appreciates Gonzales having his backside.

“I love him like a brother,” he said. “He’s the person who will always be there for you whenever you need him.”

Gonzales is just beginning to blossom as a blocker, with colleges taking notice. He underwent a growth spurt after his freshman year, and the bar keeps rising as to what he might be able to accomplish this season and beyond.

“My first day here, Coach [Dean] Herrington came up to me, ‘When you’re a senior, you’ll have all the colleges talking to you,’ ” Gonzales said. “I didn’t believe him. I didn’t see it in myself. As a freshman, I was 5-11, 240 pounds. I was a fat kid. What he’s turned me into is just amazing.”

Washington, Nebraska, Arizona State and Arizona are among the schools pursuing Gonzales, who uses speed, agility and strength to compensate for not being a 300-pounder. His toughness and versatility can be seen by the fact he’s a three-time Mission League wrestling champion.

“He’s a great pass blocker,” Herrington said. “He runs like a tight end.”

And he’s in no hurry to put on weight just to say he’s big. The sweat dripping from his face in the weight room speaks loudly as to how hard he works. The weight gain will come when he gets to college, and he figures to have considerable options since he’s still growing and his father stood 6-9.

Nothing has come easy for Gonzales, whose father died from a motorcycle accident before he was born. He and his older brother have been raised by their mother, Shelmadine, who has been battling lupus and colon cancer.

“My mom is my mother and father,” he said. “I never had a father who’d take you to the park and help you with football. It was just my mom and my coaches.”

Now it’s Gonzales serving as the helper and motivator for his mother.

“Ever since I can remember, it’s been me, my mom and my brother,” he said. “We’re the ones who keep her going.”

Humbleness comes with being an offensive lineman.

“At first, when I started, I didn’t like it because I got no glory,” he said. “I could make the amazing touchdown block, but no one would ever know because I’m the guy in the background. But the running back, after all the touchdowns, he always comes back after the play, ‘Thanks Akeem.’ ”

Gonzales will also receive action this season on the defensive line, but ever since Herrington made him an offensive lineman, he has felt comfortable and confident.

“He said I’d fall in love with it and I’ve loved it,” he said.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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