Mesa College football Head Coach Gary Watkins, Jr. was selected to serve as the tight ends coach for the United States Football League’s Michigan Panthers.
Football players, coaches and alumni shine light on excellence
June 22, 2023 |
It’s no secret that the San Diego Mesa College athletics program is widely known as one of the best in Southern California, with more than 19 men’s and women’s sports that earn multiple titles each year.
With an average GPA over 3.5, student-athletes at Mesa College are the pinnacle of success. So much so, that Mesa College has been awarded the Devore Trophy — which is presented each year to the Pacific Coast Athletics Conference (PCAC) program with the most successful men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic program — three times since 2012.
This year, Mesa College football is setting a new college record with players receiving 156 to continue. In 2022, Mesa College athletes received more than $2.4 million in scholarships, with seven All State Scholar Athletes who earned 3.5 GPA or higher, and in 2021, Mesa College had 13 Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Multiple players earned stand-out distinctions, including Ezra Christensen and Antwoine Sullivan, who accepted offers to Fresno State; Gunnar Gray and Blaze Zito, who will transfer to Buffalo; and Cameron Stoffel, Ethan Nelson, and Donovan Warren, who will attend Gannon University. For comparison, in 2019, Mesa College had 20 sophomores who received 87 total offers, and all 20 accepted a scholarship offer. On average, Mesa College football players receive 70 offers each year.
Going Pro
In addition to current athletes, Mesa College football coaches and former players are making headlines, as well. Over the winter, Head Coach Gary Watkins Jr. was selected to serve as the tight ends coach for the United States Football League Michigan Panthers. Watkins will return to Mesa College in the early summer with additional knowledge that he hopes to be able to incorporate into the Mesa College football program.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Coach Mike Nolan and the Michigan Panthers,” Watkins said. “It’s a dream come true to coach professional football. I’m excited to learn and grow as a coach during my time with the Panthers.”
After this year’s National Football League season concluded, the Houston Texans hired San Francisco 49ers defensive quality control coach, former football player, and Mesa College alumnus Stephen Adegoke as its new safeties coach. Adegoke was only in his first season with the NFL when he was selected, serving previously as a graduate assistant on the University of Michigan’s staff under Jim Harbaugh before going to the 49ers. Before Michigan, Adegoke coached with Florida from 2019-2020, where he was working on his master’s degree in sports management, which he completed in 2021.
Adegoke played college football as a safety for Mississippi State from 2017-2018 after transferring from Mesa College. Adegoke played 16 games while with Mississippi State and totaled 14 career tackles, an interception, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.