Led by 2018 offensive lineman Juan De La Torre signing with NCAA Division I FCS Eastern Kentucky University, eight more 2019 Pasadena City College football players are moving on to the next level, according to current head coach Steven Mojarro.
De La Torre, a 2-time All-SCFA selection, worked on his academics in the past two years and it paid off with the 6-foot-5, 295-pounder taking his talents to play for first-year head coach Walt Wells as a junior in 2020. As a member of the EKU Colonels, the lineman will be playing in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Mojarro talked about the significance of De La Torre's signing.
"Juan becomes our first DACA student at PCC to receive a Division I scholarship," he said. De La Torre attended Salesian High before coming to PCC in the 2017 season.
Another Lancer with a unique background is offensive lineman Krikour Koustanian, who also is headed the NCAA D-1 FCS route in signing with the University of Northern Colorado. Koustanian, an All-SCFA Second Team selection as a freshman, was a medical redshirt this past season after an injury shortened his year to two games in 2019. But that hardship hardly compares to the fact that the Armenian-raised Koustanian is a Syrian refugee who came to the USA in 2015 to eventually attend Pasadena High (All-Pacific League Second Team) before arriving at PCC in 2018.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound guard/tackle will have three years of eligiblity remaining as he also will be playing for a first-year UNC Bears head coach in former, 3-time Super Bowl-winning NFL player Ed McCaffrey.
"To have two guys with such tough situations both earn a D-1 scholarship is really what our level of football is all about," Mojarro said. "We're giving kids chances that maybe even the players themselves didn't think were possible. I want to thank everyone, the PCC administration, faculty and staff for making those players live the American dream."
Two-year letterman safety Jeremiah Lugo signed with NAIA Benedictine College (Kansas). Lugo was an All-SCFA Second Team selection as a freshman in 2018 when he led the team in solo tackles with 27. The Arcadia High product made 65 overall tackles in his two seasons. Moses Gonzalez (Garfield High), who rushed for 156 yards in 45 carries over his two Lancers seasons as a part-time running back, is headed to Division III Cal Lutheran University.
Backup wide receiver Joevontay Clayton (Garfield High), who had five catches for 61 yards in 2018-2019, will transfer to NAIA Midland University (Nebraska).
Two-year safety Andy Reyes, an All-SCFA First Team choice as a punt returner, will make a little history by playing on the first football team at NAIA Mount Marty College (South Dakota). In 2019 for PCC, Reyes (Burbank HS) made 50 tackles with an interception, had a team-high six pass breakups, and was outstanding on punt returns with 14 runbacks for an 18.9 yards average. Ironically, Mount Mary are also the "Lancers" and joining Reyes there is cornerback Sebastian Ramos, who collected 35 tackles and three pass break-ups over his two PCC seasons. Ramos played his prep ball at Schurr High. Mount Marty will not play its first season until 2021.
Isaiah Johnson, a reserve linebacker from the '19 Lancers, will walk on at Division II Clark Atlanta University (Georgia). Johnson is from Pasadena High.
In all, PCC has sent 18 players from the '19 roster to 4-year universities and an additional seven players from the 2017-2018 teams. Coach Mojarro has moved 58 players to the next level in his three seasons as head coach.
Krikour Koustanian Juan De La Torre