Eleven Pirates moving forward

Barry Faulkner

Nearly a dozen Orange Coast College football players have landed at

four-year programs at which they will continue their careers, Pirates

Coach Mike Taylor announced.

Sophomore Ryan Davis, a first-team All-Mission Conference American

Division defensive tackle last fall, has already left for the

University of Idaho, where he will have two years of eligibility for

the Vandals.

Sophomore fullback Jimmy Niutapuai, a second-team all-division

performer, is bound for Kansas State, which also secured the services

of sophomore defensive end Ricky Miller.

Miller, who played his freshman season at Fresno State, had

originally verbally committed to San Diego State, after earning

second-team all-division honors for the Pirates last fall. But Miller

changed his mind and decided to join Niutapuai in Manhattan, Kansas.

Kyle Collins, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound offensive guard who earned

second-team all-division recognition as a sophomore, will continue at

Southwest Missouri State.

Joe Mitchell, an all-division linebacker as a freshman, who

injured his ankle in the first game and missed the rest of his

sophomore season, will play at Northern Arizona.

Beau Budde, a quarterback who missed his sophomore campaign after

breaking a finger on his throwing hand in a preseason practice, will

continue at Fresno State, though Taylor said he may shift to tight

end for the Bulldogs.

Jon Garcia, a Costa Mesa High product who started two seasons at

tight end for the Pirates, will continue at Sacramento State.

Four OCC defensive backs are among those moving on. Sophomores

Jonah Katende is bound for West Georgia, Andrew Taylor will continue

at Iowa Wesleyan and Marques Dailey is bound for Hawaii. Will

Mitchell, a freshman last season, will move on to West Texas State,

where he will have three seasons of eligibility.

Taylor said 6-5, 315-pound sophomore offensive tackle Ryan Pahua

has taken one recruiting visit to Ball State and has another

scheduled for Utah State.

Matt Padilla, a first-team all-division tailback who led the

Pirates with 761 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 143 carries,

is being pursued by New Mexico State and Youngstown State, Taylor

said.

Taylor identified Alabama Birmingham as the primary suitor of

sophomore receiver Ryan Lauderdale, a second-team all-division

honoree last fall. Lauderdale had 31 receptions for 300 yards and one

TD in 2004, when the Pirates finished 2-8.

Taylor said sophomore quarterback Kyle Basanez, the Pirates MVP

after throwing for 1,530 yards and eight TDs and rushing for 360

yards and one TD, has put future plans on hold until he completes

work on his associate arts degree in May.