The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
CSM defensive end Malakai Hoeft makes one of his 40 tackles in 2023. Hoeft is one of 33 transfers to four-year colleges from last year’s Bulldogs team, and one of four now at San Jose State. Photo by Patrick Nguyen.
When defensive end Noah Lavulo transferred from College of San Mateo to San Jose State in 2022, Bulldogs head coach Tim Tulloch had one ask of the Burlingame native.
“Represent our program so well that they want to come back and sign two more (players),” Tulloch said.
The next year, San Jose State did just that, bringing in linebacker Taniela Latu and defensive lineman Quincy Likio via transfer from CSM. This year, four more Bulldogs are headed southbound to don Spartans uniforms, with Matt Fadelli, Malakai Hoeft, Soane Kolokihakaufisi and Pau Reed all being recruited by head coach Brent Brennan.
“So one became two and, then this year, two became four,” Tulloch said.
Brennan wasn’t done tapping CSM for football talent. When Brennan left San Jose State in January to take the head coaching position at University of Arizona, the pipeline from the San Mateo Hilltop was extended to Tucson, Arizona, where five CSM players transferred onto Brennan’s new roster.
Cyrus Durham, Demetrius Freeney, Reymello Murphy, Jeremiah Patterson and Johno Price — all members of the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association state runner-up Bulldogs — are bound for Arizona and Brennan’s new-look Wildcats.
“Brent Brennan and his staff know our program really well,” Tulloch said. “Before they left San Jose State, they signed all those kids … and when they went to Arizona, they took five more.”
CSM totaled 33 transfers to four-year schools from the 2023 roster, including 27 to NCAA Division I programs. This is par for the course. In 2022, CSM transferred 35 players, 30 to Division I.
“All guys that were unrecruited out of high school that went to work,” Tulloch said of the 2023 class. “They developed, they grew, and we’re just so proud of all they’ve accomplished. And they’re prepared and ready for that next level.”
Tulloch said the new trends in college recruiting have taken the emphasis off high school players. From the ever-growing transfer portal, to name, image, and likeness rules, four-year colleges are less prone to want to develop players, instead looking for players who can have an immediate impact.
“What we’re seeing is the Division I level is becoming so money driven … and what’s happening is coaches are feeling pressure to win immediately,” Tulloch said. “They’re having to take more experienced players.”
Hoeft is a prime example. As an All-West Catholic Athletic League defensive back at Serra during his senior season of 2021, Hoeft should have been an attractive prospect. He surely had the frame at 6-3, 200 pounds, and was strong in the classroom. At CSM, the Redwood City native made an immediate impact, averaging 3.1 tackles per game through each of his two seasons, with 28 total tackles (20 solo) in 2022 and 40 tackles (22 solo) in 2023.
“He had excellent grades, did a great job at Serra High School,” Tulloch said. “The trend in college football now … the teams are spending more of their time and resources in the (transfer) portal. So players like Malakai Hoeft are slipping through the cracks at the Division I level … and then they get a second chance of going through the recruiting process (in junior college).”
CSM churned out several other transfers for former Serra Padres this year. Wide receiver Terence Loville has transferred to Portland State; linebacker Fynn Williams to Missouri State; and running back Nate Sanchez to San Francisco State.
The Bulldogs will also be fielding a new quarterback in 2024 with Anthony Grigsby transferring to University of Nevada as a redshirt sophomore. Grigsby was at CSM for three years, but used just one year of eligibility. In 2023, he completed 65.9% of his passes while throwing for 3,527 yards and 34 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions.
“When you just saw how dynamic he was as a player, you knew someone was going to come get him,” Tulloch said. “He had so many (recruiting) opportunities.”
Current sophomore linebacker Odera Okaka is the latest CSM success story in the transfer game. The standout from Pittsburg High School will be donning Bulldog blue this season, but has already garnered interest from several Division I programs. He received an official offer this week from Penn State, his fourth Division I offer, Tulloch said. The other three offers are from Boise State, Cal and University of Virginia.
“And so it begins for the next class,” Tulloch said.
The Bulldogs open the 2024 season Saturday, Sept. 7, at Sierra College at 6 p.m. CSM’s home opener is slated for Saturday, Sept. 14, against Reedley College at 1 p.m.
