Signing Day: CC honors 3 players, but region's top recruit puts his party on hold

The top-ranked football team in the region once again took top billing, this time celebrating a huge victory on National Signing Day.

Central Catholic had three seniors commit to four-year universities during a ceremony inside the Mark Gallo Health and Fitness Center on Wednesday afternoon, including running back Kyle Jacklich, defensive back Adrian Cuevas, and wide receiver Jimmy Mootz, who will also swim at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington.

A fourth, highly-touted running back Dawaiian McNeely, opted to formally announce his college decision on Wednesday evening with his personal trainer, Les Bonsu of Bonsu Elite Athletics, and a group of BEA athletes. Around 1 p.m., McNeely confirmed his commitment to the University of Wyoming in a tweet.

"We're all signing together," Jacklich said before the noontime event. "It's a 'We' thing at this school. No one likes to sign by themselves, because we didn't get here by ourselves. We worked as a team to get here, so it was important we sign our letters together."

Central Catholic athletic director Billy Hylla used words such as "inspiration" and "resiliency" to describe Jacklich, Cuevas and Mootz before a packed audience in the foyer of the multi-million dollar gym.

“We play one of the toughest football schedules in the section, to be honest with you, and our guys work as hard or harder than most teams. It has paid off,” Central Catholic coach Roger Canepa said. “The ‘We’ thing is about getting a good education and setting them up for life. To be in a position to have college paid for, I’m excited for them. People who work hard, good things will happen for them eventually.”

Even in his absence, McNeely drew praise from Canepa.

McNeely held nine Division-I offers, the most for any senior in the region, and the suitors came from far and wide: Arizona State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon State, Tulane, Utah State and Wyoming.

"Wyo is home," McNeely tweeted.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound running back/defensive back enjoyed a banner season for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II finalists. McNeely rushed for a team-high 1,073 yards, finishing 10 of those runs in the end zone. He shared the Valley Oak League’s Offensive Player of the Year award with Manteca junior Jacob DeJesus and was a FrontRowPreps.com All-Region pick.

McNeely also had 35 tackles and nine pass breakups.

“Dawaiian played big,” Canepa said. “I don’t know how many offers he had, but it created a lot of pressure. You have to play good football. They get on the Hudl and watch every game and follow you. It’s tough for a kid now. You can’t have bad days.”

A hard-hitting safety, Cuevas earned All-VOL and FrontRowPreps.com All-Region honors after racking up a team-high 67 tackles and six pass breakups, despite playing several games with a broken hand. He was courted by many, including Sacramento State (preferred walk-on) but will attend Marian University in Indiana and study business.

“I love the coaching staff down there. It fit what I was looking for in a college," Cuevas said, "and checked all the boxes for me.”

Jacklich was a major get for Montana State Northern coach Andrew Rolin, who made the Central Valley a point of focus on the recruiting trail. Rolin also offered Jacklich’s Raider teammates Chris Mendoza and Mikey Duran, a pair of decorated offensive linemen weighing multiple offers. Neither participated in Wednesday’s signing celebration at the school, but Canepa hinted their turn in the spotlight is near.

Jacklich rushed for a team-high 17 touchdowns and is the embodiment of commitment and focus, said Hylla. He began the season as the third option in the backfield, behind McNeely and D'Angelo Bellamy, and finished as the team’s second-leading rusher (993 yards).

He will play running back at Montana State Northern.

“To be able to sign a letter of intent and play football at a four-year college is huge," Jacklich said. "That's everything I've dreamed of and worked for as a little kid. To have this day is awesome."

Jacklich has already had an impact on the Northern Lights, helping Rolin land Gregori star Marcello Longstreth, a former Pop Warner teammate. Jacklich pointed Rolin toward Gregori, where Longstreth has been an all-league player the past two seasons. He was the Modesto Metro Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year and first-team wide receiver in 2017, and an All-Central California Athletic League selection on both sides of the ball this fall.

Longstreth signed his letter of intent Wednesday morning, hours ahead of his celebration in the school library.

“We are starting to develop talented athletes. Maybe they’re not all being recruited by bigger schools, but the valley does have talent,” Gregori first-year coach Lamar Wallace said. “It’s just about getting an opportunity and they’re (Montana State Northern) capitalizing on it. They’e stepping outside their area into some untapped places, like Modesto, and they got guys from Merced and Fresno areas. They’re hitting the Central Valley pretty hard and finding some gems.”

Mootz had two receptions and five tackles in his final season.

Follow James Burns on Twitter @jburns1980, or email him at frontrowpreps@gmail.com.