JC notebook: Four Fresno City football players sign with four-year programs

Four Fresno City College football players signed national letters of intent Wednesday, including linebacker Chris Woolbright with Alabama-Birmingham.

UAB discontinued its football program in December 2014 but reinstated it last June after a reported $27 million was raised. The Blazers will resume play in 2017 at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

Woolbright said he picked UAB because he felt comfortable with the coaching staff.

“I’m ready,” Woolbright said. “You’ve got to appreciate it when coaches keep it straightforward with you and tell you straight up where you’re staying and how they’re going to run things. They didn’t smile at my face and tell me I was the best this or that. They told me straight up they want me.”

Other Rams moving on: defensive back Tajhe Moore and linebacker John Weary III to Lincoln University and defensive end Elijah Watkins to Florida A&M. Offensive linemen Sammy Madden (Humboldt State) and Darian Warford (Black Hills State) were midyear transfers.

Other signings – College of the Sequoias defensive lineman DeShawnte Lloyd (New Mexico State), defensive back Kevin Hayes (Midwestern State), quarterback Javin Kilgo and offensive lineman Maleek Brown (Lincoln) signed Wednesday. Defensive back Robert Jackson (UNLV) was a midyear transfer.

▪ West Hills players who signed: linebacker Caleb Wilson (Buffalo), defensive back Jamaal Burgess (Bethune-Cookman), wide receiver Ryan Fila (Minot State), defensive back Steve Le (Grand View), offensive linemen Rejean Macon (Southwest Minnesota State), Alton Goodman and Kameron Gomness (Virginia Union) and fullback/linebacker Tyler Wilson (Lincoln).

Basketball – Fresno City guard Nick Hilton returned from a five-game suspension Wednesday and scored 12 points in an 86-75 victory over West Hills.

Hilton was suspended for violating league rules after a video was distributed showing alleged dirty tactics by players. No other players will be suspended, Central Valley Conference commissioner Logan McKechnie said Friday.

“Other issues were handled by the college with the team and coach,” McKechnie said.

The state’s 11th-ranked and NorCal No. 5 Rams (21-6, 7-1) will host Columbia College at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Fresno City women’s basketball team, meanwhile, remains undefeated in CVC play after a 70-56 win over West Hills-Lemoore. The NorCal top-ranked Rams, who are 22-3 overall and 8-0 in league, will host Taft at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Both of Saturday’s games will be televised by Community Media Access Collaborative (Comcast Channel 94 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99).

Baseball – Preseason NorCal No. 2 Fresno City opened its season Friday against Los Medanos and won 6-1 in Pittsburg.

The Rams were without slugging first baseman R.J. Hartmann, who batted .283 and drove in 29 runs to help Fresno City reach the state final four last season.

Fresno City’s home opener is 6 p.m. Feb. 12 against Chabot.

Softball – Fresno City started its season 3-0 and will host a pair of games Saturday.

The Rams defeated Bakersfield 9-1 in their opener Jan. 28 and followed that up with victories against Sierra (7-6) and Cuesta (11-1). Rams pitcher Sarah Santana picked up all three wins.

Fresno City will host San Joaquin Delta and Ohlone at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, respectively.

Swimming and diving – Fresno City will open its inaugural season Saturday at the Clovis Invitational. The meet will begin at noon at Clovis North High and is hosted by Clovis Community College.

The Rams program was added last July and will be led by coach Gianna Rossi.

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 7:39 PM with the headline "JC notebook: Four Fresno City football players sign with four-year programs."