OCC trio moving on

Three Orange Coast College football players, Will Martin, Ryan Eachus and Melvin Irby, who are moving on to four-year schools, made their selections official Wednesday as part of JUCO National Signing Day.

This was the day junior college transfers can begin signing letters of intent to play football at the university of their choice.

All three Pirate transfers put pen to paper in the foyer of OCC gymnasium with family members, teammates and coaches looking on.

Center Will Martin will attend UC Davis, just outside Sacramento; tight end Ryan Eachus will play at UNC Charlotte in North Carolina; and linebacker Melvin Irby will suit up for Sterling College in Kansas.

Martin, a first-team all-CIF selection and two-time all-league selection from Brethren Christian High in Huntington Beach, played a key role on the Pirates’ offense that averaged 24 points and 381.8 yards per game.

An engineering major and National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete, Martin said his selection was based in large part on academic opportunities at UC Davis.

“He made a decision based on his future,” Pirates Coach Kevin Emerson said. “I’m very proud of him.”

Martin was also impressed by the enthusiasm of the UC Davis coaching staff, who continued to pursue the 6-foot-2, 300-pound lineman even after he sustained an injury.

“They kept that interest when they found out I had torn my knee up and stayed with me while I was rehabbing it,” Martin said.

A Mission Viejo graduate, Eachus was mainly a blocking tight end for the Pirates while also playing some fullback.

Eachus hauled in 33 passes for 368 yards in two seasons with the Pirates.

“They were the first Division 1 that had contacted me and that alone was pretty solid,” said Eachus, on his choice to play for the 49ers. “The football facilities are brand new and the football team seems really set on what they want to do.”

Eachus also said his experience at OCC prepared him well for the next level.

“I feel like everything I have been taught here has easily set me up for great success,” he said.

Irby, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound Beckman graduate made 46 tackles, including 29 solo tackles, four tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and had one forced fumble for OCC in 2016.

“He laid some big hits to get [to Sterling],” Emerson said. “We’re excited for him.”

Two additional Pirate football players have made verbal commitments to play at the next level and will likely sign letters of intent on Feb. 1, Emerson said.

Defensive end Preston Henry, a Tesoro graduate, has committed to Washington State after receiving numerous offers, the coach said, and defensive back Zoauntarrious Brunt has committed to Colorado State.