OCC players head on

Several former Orange Coast College football players, as well as one current Pirate, have found a home at four-year programs, Pirates Coach Mike Taylor confirmed Wednesday.

London Sapolu, a Costa Mesa High product who will be a sophomore in the fall, has committed to accept a scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii.

Taylor said punter David Herrington is bound for Tennessee, while kicker Ryan Casano has landed at Toledo.

Taylor said Shad Baichtal and Benjamin Soza, both sophomore safeties in 2008, will play next season at West Texas A&M; and Lenoir-Rhyne College, respectively. Lenoir-Rhyne is a Division II school in Hickory, N.C.

Soza played at Newport Harbor High.

Additionally, fullback Matt Redding, who starred as a receiver at Estancia High, will play at Bethany College, an NAIA program in Lindsborg, Kansas.

Steven Dean, a former OCC offensive lineman who played at Corona del Mar High, will join former Pirates cornerback Josh Jordan at Rocky Mountain College, an NAIA school in Billings, Mont.

Taylor said tailback Kevin Ah-hi will walk on at Idaho.

Sapolu, the son of former All-Pro offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu, is expected to play offensive line at Hawaii, his father’s alma mater, Taylor said. The younger Sapolu played defensive tackle as a freshman at OCC in 2008, before sitting out last season, when he was academically ineligible. Taylor said Sapolu, a 6-foot-1, 295-pounder, will shift to center this season at OCC.

Baichtal was a two-time all-division performer for OCC.

— Barry Faulkner