Tehachapi News
Former Warriors representing Tehachapi in collegiate football
Former Warriors representing Tehachapi in collegiate football
By: Tom Shea
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Posted by editor Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:29:00 PST
Viewed 1003 times
0 responses 0 comments The high school ranks can boast many players that carry the designation of a standout athlete, but only a select few ever make it to the next level of competing in college. At the NCAA level, Tehachapi has four Division IA players and one Division II athlete who played football during the 2006 season, and nine players who participated in junior college football. Below is a breakdown on how each former Warrior fared this past year.
Chris Denman
Senior, offensive line,
Fresno State University
The Bulldogs have been blessed to have two outstanding Tehachapi athletes on the line of scrimmage the past eight years, with Rodney Michael playing for Fresno State from 1998-2002 and Chris Denman from the 2003-2006 seasons.
In 2004, Denman anchored what many consider to be the best offensive line in school history, helping Fresno State to 228 yards per game and 36 rushing touchdowns. In 2005, Denman’s game improved even more, helping the offense to a yardage mark that was as high as fifth in the nation, and 42 scored points against USC, the most ever by a Pete Carroll coached team.
At the conclusion of the 2006 season, Denman will be heavily considered to receive NFL draft and Western Athletic Conference all-team consideration, and has already received notification that he will be a participant in the 2007 Hula Bowl, the top showcase NCAA All-Star game for some of the nation’s top collegiate football players.
Jon O’Brien
(Junior, deep snapper,
New Mexico University
After joining the team as a walk-on in 2003, Jon O’Brien has emerged as a solid contributor for the Lobos in three years played. O’Brien, playing in his junior year in 2006, started every game for New Mexico in a 5-6 season overall. O’Brien helped the Lobos’ special team unit to a 40.5-yard average on punts in 59 attempts overall.
In high school, O’Brien was a mainstay on the offensive line for the Warriors, helping 2002 Mountain Football to a 7-4 record his senior year.
Tyler McCann
Junior, offensive line, Missouri Western State University
After finishing his first two years of collegiate eligibility at Bakersfield College, Tyler McCann joined Division II powerhouse Missouri Western State, where he helped the Griffons to a 9-3 (7-2 MIAA) record, helping his team to a Division II NCAA 15 rank at season’s end. McCann will look to help build on MWSU’s success next season after helping his team to 2,169 yards passing and 2,012 yards rushing on the offensive line.
At BC, McCann was a second-team All-Conference selection in 2005, and was also named second-team All-SSL while at Tehachapi High School in football, helping the Warriors to a 2003 CIF championship.
John Sullivan
Sophomore, kicker,
New Mexico University
Sullivan joined O’Brien as a walk-on for the Lobos in 2003, and since has impressed the New Mexico coaching staff with his technique and consistency in the kicking game. Sullivan is considered to be a strong contender to compete for the starting place kicker job in 2007 if his progression continues to escalate with the team.
Sullivan was selected to the Tehachapi News 2000-2005 All-Warrior team in 2006, and was a three-year letter winner for Tehachapi after joining the varsity team as the place-kicker his sophomore year during the 2000 season.
Tommy O’Brien
Freshman, deep snapper,
Northern Illinois University
Following in the footsteps of his older brother as a gifted deep-snapper, Tommy O’Brien solicited his talent to Northern Illinois University after graduating in 2006 and received a scholarship to play for the Huskies for the next four years.
"Being a long snapper sometimes is underappreciated and unrecognized," said Northern Illinois head coach Joe Novak on NIU’s website. "Tommy is good sized at 235 pounds — you have to do some blocking at that position as well as snap the ball. We're really happy to have him. The long snapper is an integral part of our kicking game."
O’Brien has helped NIU to a 6-5 record on the year leading up to their final game with Eastern Michigan.
As a Warrior, O’Brien finished his senior season as a team captain and Warrior Award recipient, and still holds the team record for a 300-pound. power clean.
Junior College
Freshmen and sophomores
Tehachapi has a healthy crop of former players who are playing at the junior college level of football. Former Warriors playing at this level include Jeremiah Troffer (defensive line), Tyler Hansen (quarterback), Josh Thompson (offensive line) at Antelope Valley College; Matt Fort (offensive line) and Ralph Curiel (offensive line) at College of the Canyons; and Eric Tercy (defensive back), Mike Papac (offensive line), Mike Barboa (linebacker) and Chris Dockery (offensive line) at Bakersfield College.
Papac was selected as a first team All-Conference pick on the offensive line.
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