12/15/2014

JC football signings


 It wasn’t like Ernest Hawkins made a rash decision.
 Yet, when the SEC comes calling for your services, you can’t say no.
 The 6-foot-2, 225 pound Hartnell College linebacker is headed to South Carolina after verbally committing over the weekend to become a Gamecock.
 Hawkins will make it official on Wednesday when he signs with South Carolina, whose head coach is former Heisman Trophy winner and 49ers quarterback Steve Spurrier.
 Monterey Peninsula College all-conference defensive lineman Jonathan Tuiolosega has also made a decision, committing to  the University of Texas-San Antonio.
 Over the course of four days, South Carolina saw film of Hawkins, home visited him, put him on a plane and made an offer.
 “It came down so fast,’’ Hartnell coach Matt Collins said. “They really liked what they saw on film of him.”
 Hawkins was scheduled for a visit to Hawaii, but turned it down after they wanted him to commit before boarding the plane. Colorado had also expressed interest.
  Hawkins compiled 58 tackles this past season for the conference champion Panthers, recording three sacks while breaking up three passes.
  Tuiolosega, a former Seaside High wrestling standout, will make it official on Wednesday as well, signing with a program entering its fifth year of Division I football.
 Texas-San Antonio plays in Conference USA and is coached by former Coach of the Year Larry Coker. Last year they were 3-5 in C-USA.
  "Jon is really excited,'' MPC coach Mike Rasmussen said. "He was weighing other offers. But this seemed right.''
 Tuiolosega had interest from Fresno State, Oregon State and Georgia State.
 The 6-2, 295-pound Tuiolosega finished with 8.5 sacks this past year for MPC, compiling 38 tackles, recovering a fumble and breaking up two passes.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Congrats to theses guys!!! Coach Collins has been doing an awesome job at Hartnell. Is ability to go out of state and recruit has turned that program around. Coach Rassmussen needs to take some notes if he wants MPC to continue to compete. Both coaches have always done a great job getting players to the next level.