Pasadena City College head football coach Steven Mojarro continues to work hard in placing his 2019 sophomores with 4-year universities. Four more Lancers, including 2-time, All-State wide receiver/kick returner David Telles, have signed scholarships in increasing the overall list of scholarship Lancers to 21.
Telles has signed with NCAA Division II Western New Mexico University after an illustrious 2-year career at PCC. Despite his smaller size of 5-foot-9 in height and 170 pounds, Telles proved to be a special student-athlete as he excelled at both receiver and in returning kicks.
A product of Franklin High, Telles led the Lancers in receiving in both of his years in 2018 and 2019, including 40 catches last season for 446 yards (11.2 per reception) and five touchdowns. He was picked as a WR on the '19 All-State Team after earning a selection specifically at All-Purpose as a freshman. In that season, he led the SCFA American Pacific League in all-purpose yardage at 124.9 yards per game. He was the league leader in kick return yards at 626.
Telles finished at PCC with 2,059 all-purpose yards in 20 games, averaging 103 per contest in his Lancers career. His 77 career receptions places him No. 9 on the PCC all-time list. Telles earned a PCC Elizabeth Jensen transfer award for his accomplishments on the field and in the classroom.
Two-year letterman defensive back Shane Andrews, from Muir High, is headed to Division II New Mexico Highlands after being named SCFA All-American Pacific League Second Team at safety. Andrews, who carried a 3.3 GPA, made 45 tackles for the '19 Lancers and broke up five passes as part of the team's strength on defense--the secondary. PCC was No. 12 in the SCFA in pass defense, but was even better in league play, allowing just 145 yards per game. PCC's defense did not allow a point in the team's final three games (only a 2-point special teams conversion on a blocked extra point).
All-SCFA First Team selection Drew Pendleton, a two-way player on offense (receiver) and defense (linebacker), and another player who played both sides of the ball--linebacker/running back Sal Chavez, each signed with NAIA Mount Marty University in South Dakota. A Burbank High grad, Pendleton was a dual threat as he was second on the team in tackles with 58 (plus two forced fumbles and three sacks) and caught 10 passes as a receiver. As a freshman, Pendleton caught 22 passes for 276 yards and two TDs and had an interception when he was converted to defense late that season. Chavez, from Schurr High, was used at both a blocking back and as a second unit player on defense. Four Lancers will now attend Mount Marty, a brand new football program that was not planning to have its inaugural season until 2021.
"With all the uncertainty of how sports will go because of COVID-19, it's nice to know that most of our 2019 sophomore class will get to capture the university experience in continuing their educations and football careers," said Mojarro, who has been PCC's head coach the past three seasons. "We were fortunate that our players got to play their entire sophomore seasons before this virus changed everything this year."
Mojarro has now sent 61 players to the next level with a high of 27 from the 2017 squad. Seven players who played on PCC's 2017 and 2018 teams found 4-university homes in the last several months.
Like all California Community College intercollegiate athletics, Lancers football continues to be in a holding pattern with a now reduced 2020 season of seven games pushed back to February, 2021. However, each individual college will make its own decision based on health conditions and how to implement safe COVID-19 protocols in order for the high-contact sport of football to resume. At this time, football official team practice cannot begin until Jan. 18, 2021.
Follow our official athletics website at pcclancers.com and Twitter site @PCCAthletics for continuing updates.