Courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - A total of 12 high school football players,
including two from area high schools, have signed national letters of intent
to continue their football careers at Cal Poly.
In addition, Cal Poly is announcing the transfer of running back/return
specialist Mark Rodgers from West Virginia. Rodgers has signed a financial
aid package and will have two years of eligibility remaining with the
Mustangs
The announcement was made Wednesday by second-year Mustang football coach
Tim Walsh and Cal Poly director of athletics Alison Cone.
The signees from high schools along the Central Coast are wide
receiver/defensive back Kevin Britt of Nipomo High School and running
back/return specialist K.J. Cusack of St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria.
"We identified the needs we thought we had to fill in order to continue our
progression to become the kind of football team we'd like to be,
offensively, defensively and on special teams," said Walsh. "We addressed
all of those needs.
"Even though we had just 10 seniors last season, we were able to stretch
things out," Walsh added. "We have improved the speed in all areas and we
were able to upgrade ourselves against teams we're competing against.
"We have recruited good quality student-athletes that we all will be proud
of at Cal Poly," said Walsh.
The Regular Signing Period opened today and ends April 1.
Cal Poly finished 4-7 in Walsh's first season at the helm of the Mustangs
last fall.
The signees (listed alphabetically):
Kevin Britt, WR/DB, 6-1, 160, Nipomo, CA (Nipomo HS)
Britt caught 53 passes and made 71 tackles as a senior under head coach Russ
Edwards at Nipomo High School last fall. He was named team MVP and earned
first-team All-San Luis Obispo County, All-Los Padres League and
All-CIF-Southern Section Northwest Conference honors. Britt, who has 4.5
speed in the 40 and was a team captain, caught 53 passes for 893 yards and
11 touchdowns while also recording 39 solo tackles among his 71 total stops,
leading the Titans to an 8-4 overall record, 5-2 mark for third place in the
Los Padres League and a berth in the quarterfinal round of the Northwest
Conference playoffs before losing to eventual state Division III champion
Serra. Britt notched 12 tackles against Morro Bay, including a sack, and 10
tackles against Santa Ynez. As a junior, Britt caught 27 passes for 389
yards and four scores despite an ankle injury and also recorded 19 tackles,
two interceptions and five pass breakups en route to first-team all-league
and second-team all-county honors. He caught 18 passes for 195 yards and
three touchdowns as a sophomore. Britt also competes in track and field and
was the league champion in the 200 and second in the 400 last spring. He is
a three-time CIF-Southern Section division finalist in both events. Fresno
State and San Diego State were among several other Division I schools
showing interest in Britt.
Lance Castaneda, WR/DB, 6-3, 200, Modesto, CA (Grace M. Davis HS)
A three-year varsity starter, Castaneda earned first-team All-Modesto Metro
League and All-Stanislaus District honors as a senior free safety under head
coach Len Johnston at Grace M. Davis High School in Modesto. Despite missing
several games due to a hip flexor injury, he caught 20 passes for 350 yards
and three touchdowns while also recording 65 tackles, five interceptions,
one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery en route to first-team
All-Modesto Metro League honors as a safety. He returned one interception
for a game-winning touchdown. Castaneda led the Spartans to a 6-5 mark in
2009, including a 3-2 record for third place in the Modesto Metro League,
and a berth in the CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs. He was named
MVP of the Cal Bears Full-Contact Camp as a wide receiver. As a junior,
Castaneda caught 30 passes for 500 yards and six touchdowns as a wide
receiver, including 10 catches for 121 yards against Clovis East. On
defense, he recorded 72 total tackles (13 against Sonora) along with one
sack, three forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 10 pass breakups and he
returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown against Enoch. Castaneda
earned all-league and all-district honors as a junior and was named the
league's most outstanding receiver and team MVP. Castaneda also plays
basketball at Davis High, currently averaging 10.7 points per game. He
earned first-team all-league honors in basketball as a sophomore and junior.
Castaneda has earned all-league academic honors, is a four-year member of
The National Honor Roll Society and received the school's Academic Spartan
Award, maintaining a GPA above 3.5.
Joseph Coleman, OL/DL, 6-2, 265, Hayward, CA (Moreau Catholic HS)
Under head coach Andrew Cotter at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward,
Coleman anchored the offensive and defensive lines for two seasons. He was
named Bay Shore Athletic League lineman of the year and first-team all-BSAL
this past fall and an honorable mention all-BSAL pick as a junior. Also in
2009, he earned the Cal-Hi Sports "Hammer Award" for the hardest hit of the
week and a trophy for being the Best Run Stopper. The Mariners were 4-6
overall and finished fifth in the Bay Shore Athletic League last fall.
Coleman scored a touchdown on a two-yard run against Albany early in the
season. "I'm really excited, I can't wait to go there," Coleman told the
Contra Costa Times after visiting Cal Poly last weekend. "It's taken away so
much stress. I can sit back and relax about life again." Coleman also plays
basketball for the Mariners, averaging 4.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a
contest. He scored a season-high 13 points against De Anza on Dec. 22 and
pulled down 11 boards against Tennyson on Jan. 15.
K.J. Cusack, RB, 5-9, 165, Santa Maria, CA (St. Joseph HS)
Cusack rushed for 1,845 yards, scored 33 touchdowns (31 rushing) and
averaged 25.2 yards per punt return as a senior under head coach Mike
Hartman at St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria. He carried the ball 134
times and averaged a state-leading 13.77 yards per rush, leading the Knights
to a 12-1 overall record, 7-0 mark for first place in the Los Padres League
(three league titles in four years) and to the semifinal round of the
CIF-Southern Section Northwest Conference playoffs before losing to eventual
state Division III champion Serra. Cusack produced eight games of 100 yards
or more rushing, including four 200-plus efforts. His season high was 261
yards and four touchdowns in a first-round playoff game against El Segundo
and he averaged 153.8 rushing yards per contest. Cusack had nine runs of 57
yards or more, including a 99-yarder, He also caught 12 passes for 205
yards. Cusack earned first-team All-Area (as selected by the Santa Maria
Times), All-Los Padres League, all-CIF-Southern Section Northwest Conference
and all-state medium schools by Cal Hi Sports. He also was named All-Area,
All-Santa Barbara County and All-Los Padres League MVP, was a team captain
and helped St. Joseph to school records for wins in a season (12) and a
12-game winning streak. Cusack returned two punts for touchdowns in the
season opener against Bishop Diego (62 and 67 yards), returning 21 punts a
total of 530 yards for the season, and also averaged 27.3 yards per kickoff
return (12 for 327 yards). As a defensive back, he notched 35 tackles and
intercepted a pair of passes. In his junior season, Cusack was first-team
all-league as a cornerback with 44 tackles and five interceptions; on
offense he rushed for 563 yards and six scores and caught 10 passes for 150
yards and two more touchdowns. A 4.46 sprinter in the 40-yard dash, Cusack
also received scholarship offers from Air Force, Miami of Ohio, Army,
Portland State, Wyoming and Sacramento State. Cusack also plays basketball
at St. Joseph.
Dave Douglas, RB/SS, 5-11, 196, Oakland, CA (Oakland Senior HS)
Douglas played two varsity seasons at St. Elizabeth High School in Oakland,
accumulating over 2,100 yards rushing, before transferring to Oakland Senior
High School for his senior season. Under head coach Desmond Gumbs at Oakland
last fall, Douglas rushed for 920 yards and 17 touchdowns while, on defense,
recorded 212 tackles and four interceptions. In an 18-6 win over Skyline,
Douglas rushed 17 times for 201 yards and two scores, returned an
interception 45 yards for another touchdown and notched 12 tackles. He
earned first-team All-Oakland Athletic League, All-Oakland City and All-East
Bay honors as a defensive back. Douglas played in the East Bay vs.
Sacramento All-Star Game. Oakland finished 4-5-1 for the season and tied for
fourth place in the Oakland Athletic League at 2-3. Douglas had a 4.6 time
in the 40-yard dash and also plays basketball at Oakland High, currently
averaging 4.3 points per game. He rushed for 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns
as a junior and 867 yards as a sophomore at St. Elizabeth, leading the
Mustangs to the CIF-North Coast Section Class B title in 2007. On defense as
a junior, he notched 217 tackles and intercepted nine passes, returning four
for touchdowns. Douglas earned first-team All-Bay Football League and
All-East Bay honors as a junior and was MVP of the CIF-North Coast Section
Division V runner-up team. Douglas, who won the Coaches Alliance Award from
Stanford and is a National Honor Society member, had received interest from
Fresno State, San Diego State, Army and Southern Utah.
Nick Dzubnar, LB, 6-2, 220, Mission Viejo, CA (Mission Viejo HS)
An All-Orange County and All-CIF-Southern Section Pac-5 Conference
linebacker, Dzubnar anchored a Mission Viejo defense under head coach Bob
Johnson that held opponents to just 10.5 points per game last fall. A team
captain, Dzubnar earned first-team All-South Coast League honors and was
named defensive MVP of his team as well as the South Coast League. The
Diablos finished 12-1 overall and 5-0 for first place in the South Coast
League, losing to Servite in the semifinals of the Pac-5 Conference
playoffs. Dzubnar, also a wrestler at 215 pounds, led his team to the
school's first league title since 1972 last winter and earned numerous
tournament MVP titles. He is Mission Viejo High's senior class president and
maintains a 3.3 grade-point average.
Joshua Hines, OT/DT, 6-2, 255, Sacramento, CA (Jesuit HS)
Hines earned first-team All-Delta River League honors as a senior defensive
lineman under head coach Dan Carmazzi at Jesuit High School in Carmichael.
He recorded 81 tackles, including five games with 10 or more tackles, to go
along with 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble
recovery last fall. The Marauders were 4-6 overall and finished fifth in the
Delta River League with a 1-4 mark. Hines was an All-Metro Honorable Mention
and the team's defensive MVP and best lineman of the year. He earned team
player of the week honors five times, defensive player of the week honors 10
times and finished his high school career with 211 tackles and 17.5 sacks.
As a junior, Hines earned first-team all-league honors and team defensive
MVP accolades. He earned team player of the week honors four times and
defensive player of the week nine times. Hines also was a Sacramento Bee
player of the week once in 2008. He also plays basketball and participates
in the throwing events of track and field. Hines has achieved Honor Roll all
four years with a 3.5 GPA. He has a brother competing in track and field at
Stanford and Hines has completed over 300 hours of community service over
the last six years.
Brandon Howe, RB/DB, 6-2, 208, San Juan Capistrano, CA (Dana Hills HS)
Howe rushed for 752 yards and recorded 83 tackles during his senior season
under head coach Brent Melbon at Dana Hills High School. Howe averaged 6.6
yards per rush as he carried the ball 114 times and scored five touchdowns.
His season high for rushing yards was 128 against San Clemente and he also
rushed for 111 yards against El Modena. Howe also caught 10 passes for 107
yards and two scores. On defense, Howe notched 54 solo stops among his total
tackles and produced season highs of 12 tackles against Edison and 10
against Tesoro. A team captain and team MVP, he also recorded one
interception, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble en route to
first-team All-South Coast League and second-team All-Orange County honors
as a defensive back. Dana Hills was 9-3 last fall (best record in school
history), finishing second in the South Coast League with a 4-1 mark and
reaching the quarterfinal round of the CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division
playoffs. As a junior, Howe made the Principal's List, was named defensive
player of the year on his team and earned honorable mention All-South Coast
League honors. Howe has earned Honor Roll and Scholar-Athlete honors, is a
member of the California Scholastic Federation and is an Eagle Scout. He is
a member of the school's 1,000-pound Club (squat, clean, bench).
Vante Johnson, CB/RB, 5-9, 170, Fresno, CA (Edison HS)
A football, basketball and track and field athlete, Johnson earned defensive
back of the year and student-athlete of the year honors as a senior at
Edison High School in Fresno. A first-team All-County/Metro League defensive
back, Johnson helped head coach Tim McDonald's Tigers to a 10-4 overall
record, 3-2 County/Metro League mark for a second-place tie and the
CIF-Central Section Division II championship. He rushed for 142 yards on
just five carries and three touchdowns in a win over Clovis North and was
named the team's student-athlete of the year and defensive back of the year.
Johnson played his junior season of football at Grant High School in
Sacramento and helped the Pacers of head coach Mike Alberghini to a perfect
14-0 mark, first place in the Metropolitan League and the CIF-Sac-Joaquin
Section Division II title. Grant also went on to beat Long Beach Poly 25-20
in the state open division championship game at the Home Depot Center in
Carson. Johnson is a member of the Advance Placement Hall of Fame at Grant
High.
James Langford, K, 6-3, 178, Pleasanton, CA (Foothill HS)
As a senior under head coach John Mannion at Foothill High School, Langford
made eight of 12 field goals, including four of 40 or more yards, and 44 of
44 extra-point kicks. On kickoffs, 86 percent resulted in touchbacks.
Langford earned first-team All-East Bay Athletic League and third-team Cal
Hi Sports all-state honors as a kicker and earned CIF-North Coast Section
scholar-athlete honors with a 3.2 GPA. The Falcons were 7-5 in 2009,
finishing tied for fifth in the EBAL and reaching the quarterfinal round of
the CIF-North Coast Section Division I playoffs before losing to De La
Salle. Langford kicked a 57-yard field goal in the fourth annual Holiday
Classic in December at Grant High School in Sacramento, sending the game
into overtime. As a junior, Langford was 59-for-62 on PAT kicks and five of
six in field goals with a 70 percent touchback rate on kickoffs as Foothill
posted a 9-3 overall mark, finished tied for second in the EBAL and reached
the semifinal round of the CIF-North Coast Section Division I playoffs.
Langford, who earned All-EBAL honors as a junior, also competes in track and
field, specializing in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000. He chose Cal Poly over
being a preferred walk-on at Stanford. He also received interest from
Stanford, Oregon State, San Diego State, Washington State, San Jose State,
Cal, Utah State, Montana State, and others.
Chris Lawrence, DT, 6-2, 255, Danville, CA (De La Salle HS)
Lawrence anchored a De La Salle defense that helped the Spartans win the
California state open championship with a 28-14 victory over Crenshaw in
December at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Under head coach Bob Ladouceur,
Lawrence recorded 44 total tackles (31 solo stops) as a senior with three
sacks and a fumble recovery. His season high for tackles was eight against
San Ramon Valley. The Spartans finished 13-2 overall, 7-0 for first place in
the East Bay Athletic League and claimed the CIF-North Coast Section
Division I championship en route to the berth in the state open game.
Lawrence, a team captain, earned second-team All-EBAL honors and third-team
All-East Bay accolades as selected by the Bay Area News Group. He also was
recipient of the Terrance Kelly Most Inspirational Award and received
recognition as a scholar-athlete for maintaining a 3.5 grade-point average
or better. A two-year varsity starter, Lawrence earned the team's
Carpenter's Hammer as a junior.
Lefi Letuligasenoa, OL/DL, 6-2, 285, Sacramento, CA (Elk Grove HS)
Letuligasenoa earned first-team All-Delta Valley League and second-team
Sacramento Bee All-Metro honors as a senior offensive guard under head coach
Chris Nixon at Elk Grove High School last fall. The Thundering Herd, 4-7
overall, finished third in the Delta Valley League and earned a
CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoff berth. Letuligasenoa recorded 69
tackles (43 solo), including one sack, with season highs of 12 tackles
against Rocklin and 11 against Valley (Sacramento). As a junior,
Letuligasenoa was named to the Delta Valley League, Sacramento Bee All-Metro
and Cal-Hi Sports all-state first teams. He also was the team's defensive
lineman of the year, most inspirational player and most spiritual player. A
three-year varsity starter in football, Letuligasenoa also competes in
wrestling and track and field at Elk Grove and currently is rated fifth in
the state at 285 pounds. He is the defending league champion in the discus
and shotput. Elk Grove's Homecoming King, Letuligasenoa has qualified for
lifetime membership in the California Scholastic Federation and maintains a
grade-point average above 4.0.
Mark Rodgers, RB, 5-8, 185, Hawthorne, CA (Leuzinger HS/West Virginia)
Rodgers is a transfer from West Virginia and will have two years of
eligibility remaining at Cal Poly. He has played in all 13 games each of the
last two seasons with the Mountaineers as a running back and return
specialists. Last fall, Rodgers returned 27 kickoffs an average of 22.9
yards per return with a long of 51 yards against Florida State and also
rushed seven times for nine yards and caught one pass for four yards. As a
freshman with the Mountaineers, Rodgers rushed 15 times for 80 yards with a
long of 19 yards against Marshall and returned 22 kickoffs an average of
21.1 yards with a long of 44 yards against Connecticut. He is a 2007
graduate of Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, where he rushed for 4,819
yards and 50 touchdowns in his last two seasons. As a senior in 2006,
Rodgers rushed for 2,319 yards and 19 scores while catching 12 passes for
150 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 2,500 yards and 31 scores as a
junior while also playing cornerback on defense. Twice Rodgers earned
All-CIF-Southern Section and All-Los Angeles County League first-team
honors. In addition, as a senior he was named Los Angeles County League
player of the year and region co-player of the year. Rodgers also lettered
in track and field and was the fourth-fastest runner in the state with a
10.5 time in the 100 meters. He is expected to enroll at Cal Poly for the
spring quarter and participate in spring drills.
Cal Poly announced in January the enrollment of two community college
transfers:
A.J. Caviglia, LB, 6-2, 215, Clovis, CA (Buchanan HS/Fresno CC)
Kyle Murphy, DE, 6-4, 260, Santa Rosa, CA (Cardinal Newman HS/Santa Rosa JC)