Elijah Cunningham set a school record in last year's opener with a 100-yard kickoff return vs. San Bernardino Valley. (Photo by Ken Sciallo)
SBCC landed two players on the College Football America 2016 Yearbook Juco Starting Lineup, CFA's version of a preseason All-America team. Arizona Western, ASA, Merced, Mississippi Gulf Coast and defending state champion CC San Francisco also had two selections.
The Vaquero picks are sophomore Elijah Cunningham and punter Joel Whitford. Cunningham averaged a whopping 40.8 yards per return last season with two touchdowns and was named All-American by the JC Athletic Bureau. Whitford averaged 37.6 yards per punt and was named All-State. Whitford, a freshman from Australia, won't play at SBCC this year after accepting an offer to punt for the University of Washington, starting in 2017.
Eleven of the 26 players are from California community colleges.
SBCC opens the 2016 campaign on Sept. 3 at Ventura (6 p.m.) and the home opener is Sept. 10 vs. West L.A. at 1 p.m. in La Playa Stadium.
2016 College Football America Starting Lineup
Offense
Pos. Name School
QB Cole Brownholtz Sierra
RB Isaiah Patrick East Mississippi
RB Deion Walker Garden City
WR Brandon Martin Mississippi Gulf Coast
WR Mike Wilson Long Beach City
TE Jeremy Patton Arizona Western
OL Elliot Baker CCSF
OL Ronald Rudd Chaffey
OL Badara Traore ASA
OL John Vaka Diablo Valley
C J.R. Burns Northwest Mississippi
PK Joshua Rowland Mississippi Gulf Coast
KR Elijah Cunningham Santa Barbara City
Defense
Pos. Name School
DL Isaiah Buggs Mississippi Gulf Coast
DL Deion Pope Copiah-Lincoln
DL Teair Tart-Spencer ASA
DL Kamilo Tongamoa Merced
LB Gary Johnson Dodge City
LB Troy Lowe Merced
LB Eldridge Thompson Coffeyville
DB Jhavonte Dean Blinn
DB Deante Fortenberry CCSF
DB Octavious Morgan Butler
DB Keisean Nixon Arizona Western
P Joel Whitford Santa Barbara City
PR Daniel Ruffin San Joaquin Delta