Twelve PCC Football Players Moving On To 4-Year Universities

Pasadena City College Director of Football Operations/Head Coach Robert Tucker announced that 10 of his players from the 2023 SCFA American Pacific League champion team and a a pair of players from the '22 squad have committed to 4-year universities.

Two-time, All-SCFA First Team offensive lineman Guadalupe Cedillo and First Team freshman quarterback Kekahi Graham both are headed to NCAA Division I Northwestern State University (Louisiana). Cedillo (Arleta High) was an All-State Region IV selection as a freshman and a 2-year starting lineman while Graham led the APL in passing yards (2,013) and TD passes (21). From Saint Louis High, Hawaii, Graham, a lefty, threw six TDs in the Lancers' 70-13 win over West LA, the second most points ever scored by a PCC team.

Also headed D1 is sophomore defensive end Adrian Ramirez (Pasadena Muir) who totaled 49 tackles, five sacks and broke up three passes this past season. Ramirez, an All-SCFA Second Team choice, earned his scholarship to play/attend Duquesne (Pennsylvania). Going to D1 University of San Diego is freshman wide receiver William Parra (St. Genevieve), who was second on the Lancers in receptions with 27 for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

Anthony Arnou (Santa Monica HS), a quarterback from the 2022 Lancers who passed for 620 yards and four TDs before an injury cut short his year, has joined D1 University of Michigan as a walk-on.

Headed to D2 Southwest Minnesota State is redshirt frosh quarterback Wyatt Oak (West Covina). Oak completed 29 of 54 passes for 307 yards and two TDs and was third on the team in rushing on 195 yards in 25 carries, three for touchdowns. He had the team's longest rush of the season of 45 yards in a win over College of the Desert. 

The rest of the Lancers heading to the next level are attending NAIA universities on scholarships. This group includes sophomore blocking tight end Thomas Shue (Bishop Amat HS, five catches) to Culver-Stockton College (Missouri), sophomore linebackers Giovanni Giron (Bell Gardens), who made 23 tackles, and Justin Ponce (Damien)--both moving on to McPherson College (Kansas), and second-year lettermen in defensive tackle Anthony Rodriguez (Pioneer) and offensive lineman Ruben Sanchez-Garcia (Chaffey HS), the pair to play/attend Mount Marty University (South Dakota).

Ivan Ostry, an All-State, all-purpose player for the Lancers in 2022, will resume his playing career at NAIA Dickinson State. Ostry (La Canada HS) was a slot receiver who led the entire SCFA in kick return yards average at 30.2 yards per return (second in the state), including returning kickoffs for touchdowns in consecutive weeks. He led PCC in a number of categories, including most receptions with 30 for 377 yards. He tied for the team lead in touchdowns with six and averaged 108.1 all-purpose yards per game, ninth in the SCFA. Twice, Ostry was named a SCFA Special Teams Player of the Week.

"We're excited to not just move second year guys to the next level, but thrilled that several of our players have earned opportunities after just one season at PCC," Tucker said. "Community college is a great stepping stone for student-athletes and if we can get them moving to their goals to make it to the university level, then it's a mission accomplished for the coaching staff."

Tucker said this was just the initial mid-year class of transfers, but that other team members may gain scholarships by the end of the Spring semester.