ARC lineman picks USC over Alabama, others, as Beavers send big crop to four-year colleges

Caleb Tremblay has signed a National Letter of Intent with USC. (Courtesy Caleb Tremblay)

By Joe Davidson (@SacBee_JoeD), Sacramento Bee

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Thirteen American River College football players have signed letters of intent with four-year programs, including nine this week, a nice class for a junior college program that has grown accustomed to such things since gaining national relevance earlier this decade.

Four ARC players made commitments during the December early signing period.

Defensive tackle Caleb Tremblay out of Napa headlined the ARC crop. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound national recruit signed with USC after receiving a dozen offers, including from Alabama and Washington.

Tremblay played a paramount role in ARC’s return to the Northern California championship and a national No. 6 finish by JCGridwire.com. He recorded 44 tackles, 9 1/2 for loss, despite constant double teams.

“He has all of the physical attributes and explosive movements to continue to be a dominant football player,” ARC coach Jon Osterhout said. “He has freakish man strength that few possess.”

Osterhout, a star lineman at Sacramento State in the 1990s, added, “Not only does he have immense power at the point of attack and is extremely twitchy, but he is extremely fluid in his hips, has some shake, and gets perpendicular on offensive linemen and is able to cut edges very well.”

Tremblay has said that going the community college route helped him grow academically and physically. He has no regrets. He wrote on Twitter, “Never give up on your football dreams in Junior college. It will pay off.”

ARC defensive linemen Adam Lopez and Kaleb Meder signed with Nevada, and state JC Defensive Player of the Year Rahsaan York, a linebacker, signed with Kansas State.

Brandon Aiyuk, a JC All-America all-purpose player for Sierra College, signed this week with Arizona State. Sierra College defensive lineman Andre Sandridge signed with University of Saint Mary in Kansas this week.

Sacramento City College had two players sign this week: defensive lineman Rodney Spidell with MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas and offensive lineman Brysen Klinefelter to Sac State.

A closer look at ARC players who signed, including their position, high school and new team:

▪ Diego Cervantes, offensive line, Elk Grove High School, Old Dominion

▪ Anthony Craven, punter, Linden High School, Alabama State

▪ Arthur Jackson, receiver, Wood High School, Eastern Michigan

▪ Moses Landis, offensive line, El Camino High School, Nevada

▪ Adam Lopez, defensive line, Sacramento High School, Nevada

▪ Kaleb Meder, defensive tackle, Wheatland High School, Nevada

▪ Lenny Nelson, defensive back, Woodcreek High School, North Dakota

▪ Trevor Reinwald, offensive line, Elk Grove High School, Northern Arizona

▪ Donovan Robinson, defensive back, Adams State

▪ Hunter Rodrigues, quarterback, Whitney High School, UC Davis

▪ Isaiah Tharp, offensive line, Pleasant Grove High School, Southern Oregon