Signing day: Sacramento-area football early signing period includes five from Folsom High
It’s not easy to secure a full athletic scholarship for any sport, and football may be the most daunting of challenges for teenagers who aspire to compete in college.
It’s a numbers game, for starters, and one must be big enough, fast enough and skilled enough — with grades to match — to move on. There are just over 1 million high school students playing football across the country, according to data compiled by the National Federation of State High School Association, but there are only hundreds of scholarships to be had, with most programs offering no more than 25 a year.
Add in the NCAA transfer portal where schools can retool or reload in a hurry by plucking players from other college programs, and it becomes even more difficult to land a full athletic ride.
On Wednesday, 15 Sacramento-area players signed binding letters of intent to play for Division I programs. Call them the Fortunate 15. This isn’t the only day seniors can sign, with the next signing period in February.
The Folsom Bulldogs led the local pack with five signees, each of the players playing a big role in powering the program to another CIF Northern California final this week. Folsom players inked their packages in a signing event in the school’s library, joined by family, coaches and teammates.
“It’s a big deal to land a scholarship because they’re so hard to get,” Folsom coach Paul Doherty said. “I’m happy for these kids.”
Just up Highway 50 in El Dorado Hills, 6-foot-7, 245-pound Oak Ridge tight end Kaleb Edwards signed with Alabama, a decades-long college powerhouse that traditionally gets the pick of the litter.
Oak Ridge coach Casey Taylor said Edwards is the real deal, adding “he’s so humble, a great kid. He’s super talented. He could be an NFL guy some day.”
An example of how difficult it is to earn a scholarship comes from the Elk Grove Unified School District. That’s the largest district in Northern California enrollment wise with nine high schools, but only one player signed Wednesday. It was Elk Grove High defensive end/linebacker Lucan Amituanai, who is headed to Washington State to pursue ball carriers.
Rocklin had one player sign, not because the Thunder of Placer County was thin on talent. Hardly. This is one of the top teams in the region. It’s that hard to get rides. Garrison Blank, a door-filling, field-tilting, 6-8, 305-pound offensive lineman is headed to UCLA after earning praise from his coaches for his work ethic and leadership.
In Del Paso Heights, the Grant Pacers celebrated 2023 Bee Defensive Player of the Year Jeremiah Tuiileila signing a deal with San Diego State as a rush-end specialist. In short: get to the quarterback.
Tuiileila helped lead Grant to its third consecutive NorCal championship game, this Friday at Saint Francis in Mountain View.
West Park of Roseville had two players sign — lineman Jaxon Moore with Sacramento State and receiver Mason Johnson with Nevada.
Wednesday was also added proof that one does not have to go to a large school, prep powerhouse to get on the NCAA recruiting radar.
Robert Meyer is a kicker from small-school Colfax who signed with Missouri of the loaded Southeastern Conference. He is a fine enough student to graduate early to get a head start at Missouri.
Also, lineman Ivan De Silva of Division IV Placer is headed to the Air Force Academy and tight end Elijah Huddle of Division V Casa Roble is off to Sacramento State.
If you can play, colleges will find you.
Lucan Amituanai
Position: Defensive end/linebacker
High school: Elk Grove Thundering Herd
College: Washington State Cougars
Comment: The 6-foot-4, 240-pound rush end is still scratching the surface of how good he can be. Lucan led Elk Grove with 68 tackles and 12 sacks for a playoff team.
Garrison Blank
Position: Offensive line
High school: Rocklin Thunder
College: UCLA Bruins
Comment: There’s no blanking on talent here. He looks the part at 6-8 and 305 pounds, and he has arms and legs that look like trees. Blank said he is thrilled to remain in-state.
Ivan De Silva
Position: Defensive line
High school: Placer Hillmen
College: Air Force Falcons
Comment: A force in the trenches for the Hillmen of Auburn at 6-6 and 265 pounds, Big Ivan has the frame to add bulk. He already has the desire.
Kaleb Edwards
Position: Tight end
High school: Oak Ridge Trojans
College: Alabama Crimson Tide
Comment: At 6-7 and 245 pounds, Edwards towers, and he’s a talent in the open field with the ball in his hands. He is rooted in humility and class and will continue to play sports and go to school instead of graduating early.
Jaron Hodson
Position: Defensive back
High school: Folsom Bulldogs
College: Sacramento State Hornets
Comment: The Hornets of the Big Sky Conference need playmakers on defense, and Hodson will be that guy once he’s finished with a Mormon mission after graduation as the Folsom-to-Sac State connection continues.
Elijah Huddle
Position: Tight end
High school: Casa Roble Rams
College: Sacramento State Hornets
Comment: Injuries limited the talented Huddle to five games this season, but he’s ready to go. Young people heal fast. At 6-3 and 205 pounds, Huddle has the frame to bulk up.
Carter Jackson
Position: Running back
High School: Folsom Bulldogs
College: Nevada Wolf Pack
Comment: A blur of a back, Jackson has rushed for 4,009 yards in three varsity seasons, including two at Granite Bay where he scored 43 times. Action Jackson will boost the Pack in Reno.
Mason Johnson
Position: Receiver
High school: West Park Panthers
College: Nevada Wolf Pack
Comment: At 6-2 and 190 pounds, Johnson showed glimpses of stardom for the Panthers of Roseville, catching nine touchdowns this season. The college game is driven by talents like this.
Isaiah Jordan
Position: Defensive back
High school: Christian Brothers Falcons
College: Nevada Wolf Pack
Comment: Jordan has good size for a defensive back at 6-2 and 205 pounds, and he can cover, tackle and hammer away. Another nice get for Nevada.
Robert Meyer
Position: Kicker/punter
High school: Colfax Falcons
College: Missouri Tigers
Comment: One of the greatest kickers to come through the Sacramento region over the decades, Meyer is off to SEC because of his cannon leg, which led to nine field goals and 56 total points for the Falcons in 2024.
Jaxon Moore
Position: Offensive line
High school: West Park Panthers
College: Sacramento State Hornets
Comment: He has size at 6-6 and 305 pounds, and Mr. Moore will get top-notch lineman instruction from Sac State’s position coach, Kris Richardson, whose units rarely allow sacks.
Jeremiah Tuiileila
Position: Defensive end/linebacker
High school: Grant Pacers
College: San Diego State Aztecs
Comment: There is always a need to rush the passer, and Tuiileila has proven to be a load to deal with for offensive linemen in his varsity tenure at Grant. He’s only going to get faster and better.
Josiah Sharma
Position: Defensive line
High school: Folsom Bulldogs
College: Texas Longhorns
Comment: At 6-4 and 325 pounds, the kid who goes by “Sugar Bear” is a skilled and athletic bulk in the trenches. Texas is as storied as they come.
Kam Totton
Position: Defensive back
High school: Folsom Bulldogs
College: UC Davis Aggies
Comment: A playmaker in the secondary who can also play on special teams, Totton is a great fit for the Aggies, who are one of the top teams in the FCS this season.
Nela Tupou
Position: Tight end
High school: Folsom Bulldogs
College: USC Trojans
Comment: An athlete at 6-4 and 225 pounds, Tupou was initially committed to Utah but flipped to USC. How good can he be in a couple of years? Or how great?
▪ Who’d we miss? Is there a Sacramento-area football player who signed this week with a Division I college program? Let us know: jdavidson@sacbee.com
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 5:00 AM.