Giants' Villareal, Garcia sign scholarship offers
College of the Sequoias' "Dinuba Connection" are headed off together to play football at the next level.
Quarterback Gus Villareal and defensive back Israel Garcia have signed scholarship offers to continue their careers at Southwest Assemblies of God, an NAIA university in Waxahachie, Texas.
Both are 2017 graduates of Dinuba High.
"The great thing about junior colleges is it gives kids the chance to continue to develop as players and students, and reward their efforts," Giants coach Joe D'Agostino said. "To get scholarships and move on is what it's all about. I'm very happy for these young men."
Villareal completed 133 of 294 passes for 1,958 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Garcia made 25 tackles with six pass breakups to help COS go 6-5 this past season and reach a bowl for the first time since 2010.
Villareal arrived at COS in 2017 and split time at quarterback with Nolan LeForge, completing 89 of 147 passes for 1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns. He redshirted in 2018.
"He's a big reason why we were able to get this thing going and get some life back in our program," D'Agostino said. "Gus is a tremendous kid, and he gets after it. He has the right disposition to be a quarterback. He's a leader."
Garcia didn't begin his COS career until 2018, when he made nine tackles, including one for a loss, and two pass breakups in a reserve role.
Garcia played both corner and safety at times this past season for COS, but is expected to be a former for Southwest Assemblies of God.
"He worked hard in the weight room and really elevated his game this season," D'Agostino said. "He played himself into a position to get a scholarship and that was really impressive to see. He was also part of the reason we had a successful season. He can do anything on the back end of the defense. That's his strength, his versatility."
Villareal and Garcia join defensive linemen Noah Wright (Lemoore) as Giants who have committed to play next season at four-year universities. Wright committed to Division I San Jose State of the Mountain West Conference on Dec. 18.
D'Agostino said several other COS players - including running back Davonte Green (Hammond, La.), receivers Sergio Pena (Selma) and JoJo Saldivar (Dinuba), defensive linemen Corleone Peters (New Orleans) and Undra Coverson (Macon, Ga.), linebackers Judah Ruckman (Springville), Mitch Maggini (Riverdale), Jeremiah Russell (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Rook Landers (Knoxville, Tenn.), and defensive backs Bobby Peele (Edison) and Jupri Hughes (Hanford) - are expected to sign in May.
Peters looks to be the marquee attraction of that group as the 6-3, 300-pounder has has drawn interest from schools in the Mountain West, Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences, according to D'Agostino.
