Former Cienega coach Pat Nugent (now Mica Mountain’s coach) once said of his team in 2020, “We’re looooaded,” and unfortunately the team that had 14 seniors earn college scholarship offers was limited to only two games in the season cut short by COVID-19.
Without a schedule full of games to enhance their appeal to college recruiters the Bobcats are still making headlines with commitments.
The latest of eight now to make a commitment is linebacker/running back Josiah Flores. He tweeted a video of his decision on Tuesday to commit to Fort Lewis, an NCAA Division II program in Durango, Colo.
Thank you to all the Coaches that gave me a chance… I will be committed too… pic.twitter.com/jDLfUMhSGm
— JOSIAH FLORES (@JOSIAHFLORES42) February 3, 2021
Flores, 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, had 39 tackles including four for loss in his brief two-year varsity career with the Bobcats.
He was offered a scholarship by at least six other schools — Bethany, Clarke, Culver-Stockton, La Verne, Trine and Wooster. Flores chose Fort Lewis after taking a recruiting trip there over the weekend with Salpointe senior lineman Brees McCraren.
“I chose Fort Lewis because I felt like it fit me just right,” Flores mentioned. “Financially it was the better choice. Not only that, I picked Fort Lewis because from Day One they showed they wanted me to go there, and always checked up on me. Also I had that feeling in my gut that this was the right way to go.”
Flores is also the 22nd local Class of 2021 prospect to make a commitment or sign with a college. Here is the complete list:
Former Salpointe OT Jonah Miller on May 18 to Oregon. He signed on Dec. 16.
CDO RB Stevie Rocker on July 16 to Arizona. He signed on Dec. 16.
CDO DE/LB Chase Randall on Sept. 2 to Sioux Falls.
Ironwood Ridge QB Chase Cassel on Sept. 23 to St. Norbert.
Nogales LB Rene R. Urias Jr. on Oct. 1 to Grinnell
Cienega QB Ryan Swoger on Oct. 23 to South Dakota State. He signed on Dec. 16.
Walden Grove LB Sebastian Adamski on Nov. 16 to Drake. He signed on Dec. 16.
Cienega C Andrew Husfelt on Nov. 19 to Washburn.
Ironwood Ridge FS Dylan Cook on Nov. 24 to Morehead State
Walden Grove WR Alex Culbertson on Nov. 24 to Simpson
Catalina Foothills TE Garrick Krautz on Dec. 9 to Morehead State.
Cienega SS Sebastian Felix on Dec. 16 to Drake.
Cienega LB Isaiah Webb on Dec. 18 to Western New Mexico.
Cienega DT Hunter Schlagel on Dec. 18 to Western New Mexico.
Buena OT Dominic Avant on Jan. 19 to Sioux Falls.
Pusch Ridge RB/DB Evan Lovett on Jan. 19 to Minot (N.D.) State
Cienega WR/DB Charles Hamm III on Jan. 19 to Jamestown.
Buena RB Isaac Benoit on Jan. 20 to Sioux Falls
Salpointe TE Fernando Torres on Jan. 22 to St. Olaf
Cienega RB Gabe Levy on Jan. 23 to Mary
Nogales WR Ricky Hanlan on Jan. 27 to Western New Mexico
Cienega LB Josiah Flores on Feb. 2 to Fort Lewis.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.