Tribune photo by David Middlecamp
With the success of former UCLA receiver Dominique Johnson a Cal Poly — Johnson led the team in catches, yards and touchdowns in 2009 — and the addition of a couple more Division I transfers this offseason, it looks like Cal Poly is becoming a welcome haven for FBS players looking for more playing time.
West Virginia running back Mark Rodgers was announced as a Cal Poly transfer at today’s signing day news conference, and Baylor defensive end Matt Singletary, the son of San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary, told me he’s committed to the Mustangs, too, though Singletary will not likely land on campus until the fall.
But Cal Poly coach Tim Walsh shot down the assumption that the Mustangs were becoming a new Second Chance U.
“I’m not big on recruiting four-year transfers unless they’re the right four-year transfers,” Walsh said at the news conference.
“If we have another one that ends up coming here, that will be great as well, but the bottom-line thing is when you have a relatonship with people or you can do your homework on certain young people and find out why they want to leave, what they want out of ther life, what they want out of enducaton, what they want out of football, and you kind of know them or have a relaitonship with them , it’s kind of easy to say ‘yes’ to those guys.
“When somebody calls, we’ll investigate it, and we’ll look at it, and we’ll make sure that he’s the right fit.
“Mark Rodgers on his visit here, our players loved him. D.J., when he came here, he was very humble, didn’t come in here and say, ‘I’ve caught 62 passes in the Pac-10. Who are you guys?’ He came in, joined in and worked hard , did very well in school … Those are the types of guys we are looking for who can come in and be a fit.”
Walsh also dropped the bomb that Johnson either had or was having offseason shoulder surgery. He did miss most of two games with a partially separated shoulder, but I’m not sure if that was the impetus for the surgery.
It didn’t sound like Walsh expected Johnson to miss much time, but that’s a topic for another day. Today, just know that Cal Poly won’t just take “any geek off the streets” — (to quote the intro to Warren G’s Regulate).
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7 comments
bob
February 4, 2010 at 9:02 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
It’s better to get transfers who are proven and BIG then getting these peewee size High School kids like Budd and these Nipomo boys. Cal Poly nees SIZE to make a playoff run.
Fan
February 4, 2010 at 1:09 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Concur with Bob regarding size. I realize the offensive scheme needs quick offesnive linemen, but some size is needed to hold off larger DL more typical of the teams that make it deep in the playoffs. Just look at Montana, for example.
Go Poly!
Musty
February 4, 2010 at 4:19 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Montana started Palmer-Hobbs-Mullins-Campbell on the DL last year. Average weight: 251.
Don’t read too much into the number after height. It has little correlation with onfield success.
Stanger
February 4, 2010 at 9:11 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I agree with Musty. Look at the size of Navy’s OL/DL and see how well they did this year. Watch the videos of Cal Poly’s OL/DL recruits. They all are explosive. Coleman and Lefi are beast and put people on their backs. I take that over a slow moving big man.
David Middlecamp
February 9, 2010 at 4:56 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Does Warren B rap?
Joshua D. Scroggin
February 10, 2010 at 3:27 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Haha, yes, Dave. And it’s Warren G. Well, he used to rap anyway.
FooppyMup
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