A group of 17 Pasadena City College football players from three different classes (2017-2019) are moving on to the next level with another 17 soon to make their 4-year university commitments, PCC football coach Steven Mojarro announced today. Eleven sophomores from the '19 squad make up the majority of the signings.
"We made some big strides with our 6-4 season in 2019 and some of that talent shows by the number of sophomores that are going to continue their football careers and college educations," Mojarro said. "The players put a lot of work into gaining their goals to reach a 4-year university and it's gratifying to see them become success stories."
Punter Jonathan Borashan, a 2-year letterman starter. has signed on with now NCAA Division I Dixie State University (Utah). Borashan improved in his sophomore season with a 33.5 yards average but with better hang time later in the season. He punted for a 41-yard average with two that landed inside the 20 in a late-season win over LA Harbor. He put up a 35-yard average when he had to make a career-high 10 punts against San Bernardino Valley.
Two-time, All-SCFA linebacker Hector Palacios has committed to Division III Cal Lutheran University. As a freshman in 2018, Palacios made 30 tackles and led PCC with six sacks. Last year, he was steady as well with 29 tackles (14 behind the line of scrimmage), 7.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. All-SCFA First Team linebacker Mark Navarro led PCC in tackles with 63 and had two interceptions as the 2-year lettermen moves on to NAIA Kansas Wesleyan University. Two-year letterman and All-SCFA First Team defensive lineman Omar Delgado and fellow defensive lineman Robbie Kindle are headed to NAIA Dickinson State in North Dakota. Delgado made 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks while Kindle totaled 34 tackles and two sacks.
All-SCFA Second Team center Randy Ruano has chosen to play/attend NAIA Midland University in Nebraska as will 2017 Lancers linebacker Aquinas Hunter. Other 2019 Lancers on the move are defensive lineman Alejandro Palacios to Division II Azusa Pacific University, fullback Alex Herrera to NAIA Kentucky Christian University, and both linebacker Sam Pyne (13 tackles and a 35-yard fumble return for a touchdown) and offensive lineman Kaleb Zhang, an international student-athlete from China, will transfer to NAIA Ottawa University (Arizona). Fullback Jeremiah Wittmer rounds out the '19 commitments as he chose Division III University of La Verne as his next stop.
From the 2018 Lancers, All-SCFA Second Team defensive lineman Lionel Humphrey III (25 tackles, 10 for loss, three sacks over two seasons) signed with Division II East Central University (Oklahoma) while All-SCFA Second Team linebacker Jasper Iheaso (46 tackles, a sack, two forced and recovered fumbles, and four pass break-ups over two seasons) transfers to Division II Adams State University (Colorado).
From the 2017 Lancers, All-SCFA Second Team tight end Kaleb Prejean, who made eight catches and two touchdowns, is a walk-on at Division I Temple University (Pennsylvania). Two-year cornerback Marquis Williams (39 tackles, nine pass break-ups, one interception in his PCC career) will join Alejandro Palacios at APU. Wide receiver Ryan Kotey only had four receptions that season but one put him in the PCC record books as he scored on a 99-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Adam Besana in a win v. Glendale. Kotey has moved on to NAIA Graceland University (Iowa).
Mojarro was pleased with the help he received from PCC's Academic Athletic Zone.
"We want to thank the Zone workers for all their help in making these transfers possible," Mojarro said. "A special thanks to (Title V adjunct) Kim Streeter and counselors Rohan Desai and Trevor Brackett."