Five Mustangs commit to play as Rams next season
Gilroy – Three days into the spring signing period, the Gavilan College football team has received commitments from 14 area football players.
The group, which Gavilan head coach John Lango called “one of the most talented” recruiting classes he’s had in his seven years at the helm of the Rams, includes several players from Central Coast Section Large School champion San Benito and highly-touted Gilroy running back Justin Sweeney.
“Talent-wise, we’re up there,” Lango said. “With the local kids, we’re really excited about what we have.”
Out of the three area Tri-County Athletic League schools, San Benito had the most players commit to Gavilan. Seven Haybalers – running back Jeff Weltz, tight end Art Esparza, defensive backs Anthony Francis and D.J. Lujan and offensive linemen Brett Leonard, Chase Graves and Matt Miller.
“(Esparza, Francis and Weltz) have all been stalwarts for Hollister. Chase is a three-year varsity player,” Lango said. “Brett Leonard has the potential to be the best out of all of them just because of his potential.”
For Gilroy, tight end Taylor Micali, fullback Stefon McCrimon and linemen Matt Hunkin and Marcus Muñoz, will also play for the Rams, along with second team All-CCS player Sweeney.
Sweeney, who rushed for 1,993 yards as a junior in 2004, chose Gavilan out of a handful of other local junior colleges, according to former Gilroy football coach Darren Yafai.
Lango is excited to have Sweeney join the squad, especially since he anticipates the Rams to have a strong returning offensive line next season. The coach talked to the running back earlier in the week to find out if he had made his decision.
“He told me, ‘I’m in,’ and I said ‘OK, get yourself ready,'” Lango said. “We’re good up front.”
Lango also received commitments from two Morgan Hill players, Live Oak lineman Erik Cifuentes and Valley Christian running back Mike Ginther.
Ginther, an honorable mention all-CCS player, scored two touchdowns for Valley Christian in its 35-14 victory over Palma in the CCS Open Division championship game
The Rams, which finished 3-7 overall and 2-3 in the Coast Conference as a young team last year, currently have 25 players working out with the squad and preparing for spring football. Last season, Gavilan’s roster had 44 freshman and just 19 sophomores. But experience and the infusion of a talented freshman class has Lango believing next season will be very different for the Rams.
“We’re going to be so much better,” Lango said.
Other Local Recruiting Notes
Two Gavilan sophomore standouts, linebacker Bradley Niles (Piedmont Hills) and wide receiver Shane Butcher (St. Louis) signed with Division I programs and are already on campus at their new schools. Niles received a full scholarship to UNLV while Butcher earned a spot with Hawaii. Two other Gavilan players, linebacker/defensive end Korey Gray (Gilroy) and cornerback Dan Martinez (Live Oak), will likely play at Menlo College next year.
– Gilroy High kicker Neil Martin is considering several Division II and III schools, according to Yafai. “He’s still undecided. But he’s an excellent kicker and I really hope he ends up playing college ball.” Some of the schools showing interest in Martin are Occidental and Redlands in Southern California and Lewis and Clark in Oregon.
