Multiple MJC football players will continue playing in college. Here’s where they’re going
Modesto Junior College sophomore Alex Ramirez and freshman Aiden Taylor were two key reasons why the Pirates earned a state playoff berth during the 2022 season.
Ramirez was one of the leaders on a talented, physical offensive line and Taylor led a trio of running backs that helped lead the team to a 5-5 record, co-Valley Conference title and a trip to the Northern California Playoffs.
Taylor originally thought he’d be a baseball player, but after a stellar career at running back for the Raiders, he received preferred walk-on offers from the University of New Mexico, Air Force and the University of Washington. Pirates head coach Rusty Stivers recruited Taylor hard during his senior year of high school and was able to persuade him to spend his first semester of college at MJC. Taylor ended the season as the team’s leading rusher, an All League Valley Conference honoree and All State running back.
Ramirez didn’t get college attention as a high school senior, mostly because of his size. During his time at MJC, coaches started to notice him. The center still had his doubts despite being named to the Valley Conference’s All League team, earning All American honors and gaining offers from Morehead State, Troy and Missouri State.
“I didn’t know if I was gonna play football after this,” Ramirez said. “As an offensive lineman being 6-foot-1, you’re gonna get overlooked a lot. What everybody looks for at the division one level, is 6-foot-3 and up as a center.”
Taylor and Ramirez are part of a number of college commitments from MJC this offseason. After sending 17 players from last year’s ‘Million Dollar Club’ to play football at four-year schools, at least 11 players already have committed to play NCAA and NAIA football next year.
Next season, the two will remain teammates at NCAA Division I Idaho State. They were two of the first recruits for newly hired head coach Cody Hawkins and his staff.
Taylor will major in biology and Ramirez has plans to study exercise science.
“It’s gonna be a great experience,” Taylor said of playing with Ramirez in Pocatello. “We were talking about it the whole time, kind of on the fence in and out. There were a lot more pros than cons obviously because we’re both going there. When we came back, we’re just both talking and then we didn’t talk for a day and then he texted me and I was like ‘I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna pull the trigger’ and he goes ‘Alright, well let’s go.’”
Tight end Everett Hunter’s journey took him from minimal snaps at Modesto Christian due to injury to a Division I scholarship offer after just one season. He was originally on his way to earning a basketball scholarship, but regained his love for football late in his high school career.
“I definitely went through a lot of obstacles only having a limited time at MC as well as still being raw to the game, and having to take the JUCO route,” Hunter said. “Earning a D1 scholarship was a goal I had since I was younger, after getting the offer I felt proud of myself because I always trusted the work I put into the game. The feeling of getting a D1 offer after hard work is a once in a lifetime feeling.”
The 6-foot-5 freshman committed to the University of New Mexico, where he will showcase his athleticism. He will play all over the offense, getting snaps at fullback, in the slot as a pass catcher and on the offensive line as a blocker.
“The visit to New Mexico felt like home; the new staff that was brought into the program treated me like I was one of their own,” he said. “The facilities were amazing, and the relationships that I was able to build with the staff in such a short time I could tell are relationships that could last a lifetime. They not only treated me well but treated my family as one of their own as well. I felt very wanted on my visit.”
Jacob DeJesus (Manteca), the Pirates’ leading receiver, committed to UNLV. Described as having “one of the best highlight films I’ve ever seen” by Stivers, DeJesus was named Valley Conference Most Valuable Offensive Player and an All-American.
All League tight end Holden Baldwin (Turlock) committed to UC Davis.
All League honorable mention and linebacker Payton Bradford (Oakdale) will play for Western Illinois University.
Ethan Day, Logan Wong, Marc Buenrostro, Josh Valdez, Tyler Rathjen, Cam Snow, Maalona Pule and Eteuati Lilio have all received offers or committed to play NCAA or NAIA football next year.
“It’s not easy being a junior college football player. If you don’t work hard, you’re gonna phase yourself out,” Stivers said. “We have a pretty good culture going because we’ve had some success, so then there’s an expectation of the kind of kid that’s going to succeed in the program. We get hungry kids that have a lot of intrinsic motivation.”
Many left for their respective schools just days after announcing their commitments to join teams for spring football, which will give them a better chance at earning playing time in the fall.
“You have a chance to get all of your higher education paid for,” Stivers said. “That’s a big deal for us.”
Though they will not be in Modesto next season, the group of players that signed will take the same mindset to schools across the country.
“Not being complacent now that I got to the division one level,” Taylor said. “Playing at JC, you come in with a chip on your shoulder after being overlooked and you tend to work a lot harder and push yourself a lot more. Coach Stivers pushes you a lot to get you out there and you’re just fighting every day for the opportunity to play at the next level.”
This story was originally published January 25, 2023 at 1:59 PM.
