Pirates look to freshmen to step up
Since taking over the Orange Coast College football program prior to last season, Coach Kevin Emerson has emphasized finding a place for his sophomore players to play after they complete their two seasons at the community college level.
Indeed, Emerson sent 12 of last season’s 14 sophomores on to four-year programs.
He has 26 sophomores for whom to find spots on the field this fall, before many of them matriculate to four-year schools.
Experience and proven production is a welcome luxury at this level and Emerson has it most in the key positions of quarterback, tailback, center and middle linebacker.
But with only four starters back on offense, including Kody Whitaker who has competition for the quarterback job, and two on defense, it is clear that a crop of freshmen will be counted upon to improve on last year’s 3-7 record.
Here’s a position-by-position look at the Pirates:
•Quarterback: Whitaker started the final seven games, but still wound up completing 175 of 314 passes for 2,093 yards and 16 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. His passing yards were the third-most in OCC single-season annals and his 175 completions rank No. 2 all-time. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder, who had intended to greyshirt last season before being pressed into service and winning the job, helped OCC rank seventh in the state and fourth in Southern California in passing yards per game (nearly 262).
Heading into the final week of practice in preparation for Saturday’s season opener at Chaffey, Whitaker was neck and neck with sophomore Humboldt State transfer Mason Dossey.
Dossey (6-3, 200), who threw for more than 5,700 yards at Capistrano Valley High, played in six games last season for Humboldt State, where he redshirted in 2013. He completed four of eight passes for 52 yards without a touchdown and threw one interception.
“Kody did a good job for us last year, but both will play in the first game and we’ll sort it out and see what happens,” Emerson said. “We’ve seen Kody in game situations, but this will be our opportunity to evaluate Mason in an actual game. But we’re optimistic because both of them have college playing experience.”
Freshman John Haneghan, out of Villa Park High, is the only other quarterback on the roster.
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•Running backs: Sophomore Kyle White capped last season by amassing 240 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries in a victory at Grossmont to account for more than 42% of his 581 rushing yards on the season.
White, who scored seven touchdowns (including two on 10 receptions) and earned second-team all-conference recognition, assumed the starting role after then-freshman Daniel Rodriguez was sidelined for the season with a leg injury.
Rodriguez, who started the preseason scrimmage on Saturday, had 171 yards on 23 carries, including 145 yards and both of his touchdowns in the season opener in 2013.
“It’s a good situation for us,” Emerson said of the two returners, who will be bolstered by tailback candidates Burrell Walker, a sophomore, and Marcus Collins, who began his collegiate career at Montana State after playing as a senior at Mission Viejo High in 2012.
Sophomore Ian Pogue is the returning starter at fullback after producing 74 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries last season. Pogue also had 12 receptions for 129 yards in 2014.
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•Receivers: Sophomore Stefan Derrick, who started early last season at cornerback out of Long Beach Poly High, sparkled in the scrimmage, making a leaping catch in the end zone for a touchdown on a long bomb.
Derrick is a projected starter, as is sophomore Marcus Durham and sophomore returner Derrel Watts.
Watts, utilized primarily in the slot during the scrimmage, had two receptions last season, but averaged 24 yards on 24 kickoff returns.
Sophomore Richard Caceres figures to be another contributor. He had 21 receptions for 171 yards as an OCC freshman in 2013.
Treavon Coley, a freshman out of Mater Dei, provides depth.
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•Tight end: Ryan Eachus (6-2, 245) a freshman out of Mission Viejo High, is the frontrunner, while Matthew Nelson (6-4, 230) out of Los Alamitos High, is also in the picture.
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•Offensive line: The 10 players from tackle-to-tackle who played on the first- and second-team units during the scrimmage include nine freshmen.
The good news is that sophomore center Brett Landon (6-3, 275) earned second-team all-conference honors last season and will anchor the blocking unit in 2015.
Will Martin (6-3, 280), out of Brethren Christian High, is slated to open at left tackle, while freshmen Fredy Camps (6-4, 315) out of Mission Viejo, and Drake Manzo (6-6, 280) out of Long Beach Wilson, are vying for the job at right tackle, Emerson said.
Freshmen Alex Losoya (6-4, 285) out of Mater Dei, and Zack Hickman (6-2, 240) out of Tesoro, are set to start at left and right guard, respectively, Emerson said.
Freshman Mike Hanson (6-4, 230) out of Fountain Valley, saw action at left tackle during the scrimmage, in which freshmen Lorenzo Malacas (6-1, 225) and Earle Austin (6-5, 265) performed at guard.
Freshman Marcus Horduno (5-8, 260) adds depth at center.
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•Defensive line: Sophomore tackle Matthew Andre (6-2, 315) made 30 tackles last season, while sophomore tackle Bobby Hill (6-4, 275) had 18 with two sacks and sophomore end Joshua Odigie (6-3, 245) had 15 tackles with 1.5 sacks as a freshman in 2012.
Preston Hendry (6-5, 220), a freshman out of Tesoro, freshman Cody Meddaugh (6-2, 275) out of Dana Hills, De Anza College transfer John Holliday (6-4, 320) and freshman Jake Hudson (6-3, 210) out of JSerra High, are also expected to contribute.
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•Linebackers: Sophomore Mike Hayden made 69 tackles as a freshman last fall, second most on the team, and the 5-11, 230-pound Los Alamitos High product is back in the middle to anchor the group. He was a second-team all-conference honoree last season.
Emerson lists freshmen Christopher Proctor (6-0, 200) out of Texas and Christian Webb (6-3, 225) out of Mission Viejo, as well as sophomore Mark Cushing (6-0, 220), a transfer from Southeast Missouri State, as others in the mix.
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•Secondary: Sophomore cornerback Derrick Worthy earned second-team all-conference recognition after making 27 tackles and one interception in 2014.
Sharky Reza, a freshman out of Edison High, is slated to start at the other corner, while freshman Brandon Worthy and Salvador Ochoa are the projected starters at the two safety spots.
Sophomores Joseph Jackson and Gilbert Gildersleeve started at safety and corner, respectively, last season, when the Pirates ranked last among 37 schools in Southern California in passing yards allowed (285.3 per game).
Jackson finished third on the team with 67 tackles and also had two interceptions, while Gildersleeve had 33 tackles and two interceptions. Gildersleeve also broke up seven passes, tops on the team in 2014.
Freshman Zoauntarrious Brunt is also expected to contribute at cornerback.
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•Kicking game: Dan Bjurman, a freshman out of Corona del Mar High, and sophomore returner Jonathan Shenk will handle kicking chores, Emerson said.
Shenk converted four PATs in a backup role last season.
Freshman Matt Stewart is projected to be the punter, while Shawn Murphy, a sophomore transfer from Fullerton Community College, is the long-snapper.
Watts leads the corps of returners.