Football Sends Nine Lancers To 4-Year Universities

As the Pasadena City College football team prepares for the 2012 season, second-year head coach Fred Fimbres announced today that nine of his 2011 class have secured scholarships to play and attend four-year universities. 

Wide receiver Wayne Peters, (Carson High) who led the state in receptions with 81 last season, will attend Minot State University in North Dakota. Peters was chosen to the All-National Southern Conference First Team in the all-purpose category after totaling 1,309 all-purpose yards, 766 receiving. Peters led the Lancers in kick return average at 22.4 yards in 17 attempts. His 81 catches trailed only current NFL Baltimore Raven David Reed for most receptions by a Lancer in a single season. 

All-NSC First Team cornerback Tyrell Austin (Miami Carol City High, Fla.) and defensive lineman Khambrell Gomez (Dorsey High) are moving on to Virginia Union University. Austin made 22 tackles and had one interception, but his blanket coverage made him one of the most difficult defensive backs to throw against in the entire conference. Gomez led the Lancers in quarterback hurries with five and added a fumble recovery as a lineman. Earlier this year, Gomez accomplished South Coast Conference runner-up in the shot put on the PCC men's track and field team.

All-NSC Second Team offensive lineman Dante Moses (from Jack Yates High, Texas) is one of three Lancers who will play together at Adams State University in Colorado. Moses was a two-year letterman as a starting guard known for his strong pass-blocking abilities. Linebacker Grant Haggard (Monrovia High) and defensive back Cariel Brooks (Miami Carol City, Fla.) join Moses at Adams State. Haggard totaled 116 tackles in his two PCC seasons, including 70 in his freshman season in 2010. Haggard was PCC's Horrell Scholarship recipient with a 3.1 GPA. Brooks had 24 tackles, two forced fumbles and broke up four passes last year and transfers as a sophomore. 

Another freshman who earned a scholarship to the next level was All-NSC Second Team wide receiver Ian Hamilton (St. Francis High), who signed with University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP). Hamilton pulled in 31 catches for 517 yards and two touchdowns in his lone PCC season.

Also getting the opportunity to play three upper level collegiate seasons is defensive back Antoine Morris (Muir High), who totaled 63 tackles (second on the team), three break-ups and an interception. Morris accepted a scholarship to Midwestern State University (Texas), the Lone Star Conference champions at 10-1 last year. 

Two-year letterman and offensive lineman James Le'au (Samoana High in American Samoa) will remain in California with his signing at Fresno State. Both Fresno State and UTEP are NCAA Division I colleges while Minot State, Virginia Union, Midwestern State and Adams State are Division II institutions.

"Ideally you hope to have guys who can stay with us for two seasons, but these are great opportunities for Hamilton, Brooks and Morris," Fimbres said of the university signees. "We're proud to continue the PCC tradition of moving guys to that next level. All nine of these student-athlete were guys that made big contributions for the Lancers and I'll always remember them as being part of my first PCC signing class."