Signing Day: After committing nearly two years ago, Turlock’s Johnson signs with Cal
Some 680 days ago, Turlock senior offensive lineman Everett Johnson accepted a football scholarship offer from Cal.
Fast forward nearly two years and on Wednesday, Johnson signed his National Letter of Intent with the Golden Bears at a ceremony in Turlock’s gym.
Wednesday was the first day high school and junior college football players could sign with a college.
“My mood today was finally ... finally I could sign,” Johnson said.
Johnson was offered by Fresno State and San Jose State before Cal but said the Berkeley campus was always the place he wanted to go to.
“It’s close to home and my friends and family can come watch me play,” Johnson said. “Turlock means the world to me.”
Johnson, who said he is undeclared about his major, said getting a degree from Cal, which U.S. News ranked as the fourth best college in the state entering 2020, played a factor in picking the school.
Turlock coach James Peterson said Johnson put a lot of hard work to get to where he was and will always remember the lineman being able to squat 300 pounds as a freshman.
The 6-feet-7, 312-pound Johnson will graduate Turlock and enroll at Cal on Jan. 16.
Johnson said being able to study the playbook as well as getting into the weight room is “huge.”
Buhach Colony athlete Trey Paster also signed with Cal and will enroll early.
“There is something special about this class,” Johnson said. “It wouldn’t surprise me to see this team playing in the Rose Bowl in two or three years.”
Downey senior linebacker David Gorman signed with Pomona College.
Central Valley wins battle of top soccer teams: In a matchup of two of the top boys soccer teams in the area on Tuesday, Central Valley beat Turlock, 1-0.
Hawks (9-2) junior Agustin Gutierrez scored the game’s only goal in the second half and senior goalie Erick Martinez Stucchi had seven saves.
The win was Central Valley’s ninth in a row and sixth straight shutout.
Turlock (7-2-2) won the Harold S. Young Invitational tournament on Dec. 7 and Summerhays Classic on Dec. 14.
Central Valley hosts Pitman at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
