Gilroy’s Bobby Best Signs D1 Letter of Intent to play football
for Cal Poly Mustangs
Gilroy – Although Bobby Best will be leaving Gilroy, he’ll still be a Mustang.
The two-time All-Central Coast Section first teamer signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play football for the Cal Poly Mustangs next season.
Best, a three-year starter for Gilroy, is the first Gilroy football player to sign with a Division I school in 10 years.
As an added bonus, the senior, also a state-finalist thrower, will also compete on Cal Poly’s track and field team.
“I love the players there and I love the coach. The head coach is very in-touch with all his players,” said Best about the Cal Poly program, which finished last season ranked sixth in the NCAA Division I-AA rankings. “I just fell in love with Cal Poly.”
After a whirlwind of college visits to Weber St., Cal Poly, San Jose St. and UC-Davis over the last month, Best, who recorded 71 tackles and 11 sacks this season, chose Cal Poly over close-second UC-Davis.
Weber St. was a family favorite – Best’s father played for Weber St. head coach Ron McBride. The senior said he liked the Big Sky school and San Jose St., which had “the best facilities.” But ultimately, Cal Poly and UC-Davis were more alluring. San Jose St., which received commitments from six players from CCS Open champion Valley Christian, was too close to home.
Until last week, Best had his heart set on Cal Poly after the UC-Davis’ defensive coordinator told him the school would likely only be able to offer him a 12 percent scholarship. But when Best met with UC-Davis head coach Bob Biggs over the weekend, he offered the 2005 TCAL Offensive Lineman of the Year a full scholarship, matching Cal Poly’s offer. A spot on the track and field team was also available.
“I thought, ‘Wow, this makes my decision a lot harder,'” Best said. “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made in the history of my life and I had to make it in three days. And I could have used another month.”
Ultimately, the location of Cal Poly won out.
“Cal Poly is more like Gilroy, whereas Davis is in the valley,” Best said. “(San Luis Obispo) is right by the beach.”
Although Best, a three-year starter for Gilroy, played both ways for the Mustangs, he’ll likely just focus on playing defensive end at Cal Poly.
“I’m probably not going to play both ways, which is good because I’d say I probably could have a third more tackles had I only gone one way this year,” said Best, who this past season recorded 71 tackles and 11 sacks, five of which came against Salinas Nov. 4.
Best will study kinesiology and has hopes of one day becoming the head strength and conditioning coach at a major college.
“When I graduate (from college), I want to become a certified strength and conditioning specialist, so that’s what I hope to do,” Best said.
Cal Poly finished 9-4 last season. The Mustangs also won their second-straight Great West Football Conference championship.
– Several other Gilroy football players made college commitments Wednesday. Gavilan College received commitments from running back Justin Sweeney, linebacker Taylor Micali, lineman Matt Hunkin, defensive lineman Marcus Muñoz and fullback Stefon McCrimon. See Friday’s Dispatch for a full report on Gavilan’s recruiting class.
