Pirates making plans

After affixing his name to the Orange Coast College football record book, tailback Ray Holley is attempting to do the same to a college scholarship offer.

Holley, whose 1,457 rushing yards in 2009 set an OCC single-season record, has an offer in place from Idaho State, Pirates Coach Mike Taylor said Wednesday.

Taylor said there has also been interest from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the 5-foot-9, 190-pounder, who scored 18 of OCC’s 20 rushing touchdowns and produced 97.2% of the teams ground yards in 10 games.

It is less attention than he deserves, Taylor believes.

“I don’t know if it’s because of his size or what it is,” Taylor said.

Holley received more attention for his work as a sophomore. The first-team All-National Division performer has also been named to the All-Region III first-team offense.

He is one of two running backs named to the team, which recognizes the top community college players in the state in four regions.

Holley is one of several Pirates who either have or are trying to finalize plans for extending their careers at a four-year school.

As announced before last season began, sophomore offensive lineman London Sapolu is headed for the University of Hawaii, where his father, former All-Pro offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu, starred as a collegian. The younger Sapolu, a Costa Mesa High product, who earned second-team all-division honors at OCC in 2009, played center and guard for the Pirates, after starting at defensive tackle as an OCC freshman in 2007.

Sophomore quarterback Kyle Manning is headed for Arkansas Monticello, an NCAA Division II school, Taylor said.

Manning completed 88 of 231 passes for 1,070 yards and four touchdowns, with 11 interceptions, as a sophomore.

First-team all-division performers Justin Niutupuai, a defensive tackle, and Jimmy Keating, an outside linebacker, are receiving interest from San Jose State and Towson State, respectively, Taylor said.

Tight end Anthony Vidal, who caught six passes for 58 yards in four games of an injury-shortened sophomore campaign, has received scholarship offers from Towson State and Southeast Missouri State, Taylor said.

Sophomore safety Keahi Raikes has received a scholarship offer from Idaho State, Taylor said.

OCC sophomores Gerald Crisp, an offensive lineman, and Kevin Borton, a defensive tackle, are taking recruiting trips to Western Illinois and Eastern Kentucky, Taylor said.

Some former Pirates who recently completed strong seasons at four-year schools include Oregon State senior receiver Damola Adeniji.

Adeniji led all players with seven catches for 102 yards in the Beavers’ 44-20 loss to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. He caught a 31-yard touchdown pass in his final game for the Beavers, giving him 57 receptions for 807 yards as a senior. He played in all 13 games for OSU and made 11 starts. He had five touchdown receptions.

As a junior in 2008, he had one reception for 39 yards.

Taylor said there are some who believe Adeniji, a 6-3, 213-pounder, will get an opportunity to attend camp for an NFL team.

Former OCC quarterback Chris Debowski completed 101 of 192 passes for 1,629 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior starter at Marist College in 2009. Debowski threw 10 interceptions and also rushed for 335 yards and a touchdown on 88 attempts. He received honorable mention in the All-Pioneer League voting.

Chris Holmesly, a redshirt junior defensive back at Idaho State, was third on the team with 82 tackles in 2009. He played in 11 games, starting nine, and finished with two interceptions. He also recovered three fumbles.

Matt Harris, a senior inside linebacker at Montana State, started five games and played in 10 games in 2009. His 44 tackles were tied for sixth on the team.

Shad Baichtal, a junior defensive back at West Texas A&M;, played in 12 games and made six starts in 2009. He had three interceptions and his 45 tackles included 1.5 sacks. He forced one fumble and recovered one fumble.

Nathan Barnett was a junior receiver at Rocky Mountain College, an NAIA school in Billings, Mont. where former Pirate offensive lineman Bryce Carich was a 6-2, 280-pound junior.

Barnett had 75 receptions for 914 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for the Battlin’ Bears.

Barnett also averaged 20.3 yards on 24 kickoff returns and returned four punts for a total of 24 yards.

Taylor said Willie Mobley, a 6-3, 240-pound defensive end who transferred to OCC from Ohio State, but never gained his eligibility to compete for the Pirates in 2009, is working out with the team. Taylor said Mobley, who had originally planned to play at UCLA next season, has instead committed to Arizona. But if he can not meet eligibility requirements to get into Arizona, he is expected to play for OCC next season, Taylor said.