Pirates move on in football

A number of former Orange Coast College football players are firming up arrangements to continue their career at four-year schools, Pirates Coach Mike Taylor said.

Chris Assily, a first-team All-Mission Conference National Division safety who was also named all-state by the California Community College Football Coaches Assn., has committed to continue at San Jose State, Taylor said.

Receiver Damola Adeniji (Oregon State), quarterback Kekoa Crowell (Montana Western) and defensive back Andrew Fuller (Portland State), have secured their futures.

Additionally, kicker Brock Jaramillo has committed to Southern Mississippi, while center Luke Sapolu (San Jose State), receiver George Raco (Hawaii) and receiver A.J. Moskus (Southern Oregon) are leaning toward walking on at their respective schools.

Sapolu, a Costa Mesa High product, is the son of former NFL All-Pro offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu, who played for current San Jose State Coach Dick Tomey, when Tomey was the head coach at Hawaii.

Defensive tackle Winter Welz accepted a scholarship offer from Idaho State, but has already returned from Pocatello and has decided not to play football any longer, said Myron Miller, Welz’s former coach at Tustin High.

Assily, a 6-foot-1, 210-pounder, had 56 tackles in 10 regular-season games, which ranked second on the team last fall. His four interceptions tied for the team lead and he also returned punts and kickoffs for the Pirates, who finished 7-4 and advanced to the Beach Bowl. OCC lost the bowl game, 29-20, to Mt. San Antonio College at Santa Monica College.

Assily helped the Pirates finish the regular season ranked No. 1 in the 12-team Mission Conference in scoring defense (16.5 points allowed per game).

Adeniji, a 6-4, 215-pounder who was second-team all-division, caught 34 passes for 502 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games last season.

Crowell, a two-year starter from Hawaii, completed 108 of 213 passes for 1,336 yards and 14 touchdowns, with six interceptions last season. He was hurt in the final regular-season game and did not play in the Beach Bowl.

Former OCC offensive lineman Jon Ioane, who played for Santa Ana College in 2006, has also committed to Oregon State.