Notable names from the area on the Fresno City football roster. ‘Sometimes overlooked’
Recruiting locally is a must for Fresno City College football coach Tony Caviglia.
It has been that way since he took over the coaching position in 1999 coming over from Chabot College.
Entering his 26th season as the Rams coach, Caviglia and his coaching staff hit the recruiting trail with heavy emphasis in the Fresno area - once again.
But only this time, the roster can be looked at with fans saying who’s who? They did just that and the roster is filled with local high school players fans are used to seeing on Friday nights.
There are so many to name, but players most notable include quarterbacks Ya’j Vance (Edison), Ryan Markarian (Clovis West) and David Marquez (Central).
It doesn’t stop there.
Running backs include Ah’Marion Gaines Smith (Central), Andrew Chavez (Clovis North), wide receivers Ramon Ruiz (San Joaquin Memorial), Marshel Sanders (Clovis West), Imari Conley (Central), Noey Felix (Central), defensive lineman Desean Watts (Clovis West) and linebacker Rocky Koontz (Clovis East).
It’s no wonder why Caviglia sees a lot of talent in the Fresno area.
He credits the high school football coaches in the region.
“This town is sometimes overlooked,” he said. “I would say the better teams are as good as anybody around the country. The TRAC conference is one of the top three conferences in California. It would be crazy for us not to have to get in there and give some of these kids to play college football at Fresno City College.”
While recruiting local players is a heavy emphasis, Caviglia is the one to never shy away from recruiting out-of-state players.
One of them includes University of Oklahoma bounceback Christian Smith, listed at 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds.
Smith is one of many from out-of-state to be on the Rams’ roster.
Caviglia when some of the local players come into his program doesn’t mean they will be playing their primary position they played in high school.
A position switch is likely with added weight.
“We’re going to give them that opportunity,” he said. “Our mission is to get these kids ready.”
Breakdown of local players on Fresno City roster
Central 9
Clovis West 8
Clovis North 6
Buchanan 5
Clovis East 4
Kerman 4
Edison 3
Hanford 3
SJM 3
Washington Union 3
Clovis 2
Sanger 2
Fresno 1
Immanuel 1
Kingsburg 1
Liberty-Madera Ranchos 1
Mendota 1
Fresno City schedule
Friday at Diablo Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Sierra, 5 p.m.
Sept. 21 at American River, 1 p.m.
Sept. 28 vs. San Francisco, 5 p.m.
Oct. 5 at San Mateo, 2 p.m.
Oct. 12 vs. Laney, 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 vs. Modesto, 1 p.m.
Oct. 26 at Sacramento City, 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 Bye
Nov. 9 at Sequoias, 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 vs. Reedley, 1 p.m.
