Football: Potter, Granch, Scoggins sign letters of intent to continue academic and athletic careers

Three members of the 2014 Long Beach City College football team have signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year NCAA Division I universities. Quarterback Kenny Potter (San Pedro HS) has signed with San Jose State University, tight end Clayton Granch (Valley Christian HS) will move on to New Mexico State University, and offensive lineman Patrick Scoggins (Palos Verdes HS) heads to Iowa State University.

The three student-athletes were joined by LBCC Football Head Coach Brett Peabody, Long Beach Community College District President-Superintendent Eloy Ortiz Oakley, and LBCC Director of Athletics Joe Cascio, as well as family, friends, and college staff at a signing day ceremony at the campus this morning.

Wednesday marked the opening day of the NCAA football midyear junior college transfer period. As midyear transfers, Potter, Granch, and Scoggins will be attending their respective new universities when classes resume for the spring upcoming semester.

"I couldn't be more proud of these three young men for what they've done for the program," said Peabody. "They put us back on the map and they are the guys that have set the tone for the future. What really separates these guys from a lot of the players I've coached in my career is their work ethic, desire, and their commitment in the classroom and also in the field. That work ethic, intensity, and preparation is really going to carry them on to great success at the next level."

Potter was one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the state over the past two years. Recently, he passed for 1,726 yards and 15 touchdowns while also rushing for 435 yards and seven TDs over just seven games on his way to first-team All-Southern California Football Association Central Conference honors. As a freshman in 2013, he was named second-team all-conference as he had an even bigger year throwing for 2,808 yards with 25 touchdowns and running for 592 yards and 14 TDs.

Prior to selecting San Jose State, Potter was also recruited by San Diego State University and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. SJSU is located in San Jose, California and is a member of the Mountain West Conference.

"He's the best quarterback I've ever coached," said Peabody of Potter. "I've had seven All-American quarterbacks in my junior college career and he's by far the best. From a leadership standpoint, I could tell you that every guy on our team would run through a wall for him. His playmaking ability and character is special."

Granch was also a two-time all-conference selection at tight end, earning second-team accolades as a freshman in 2013 and first-team honors this past 2014 season. He caught 12 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns his sophomore year and had 17 receptions for 365 yards and three TDs his opening season.

Granch also considered Akron University, Eastern Michigan University, Bowling Green State University, and Purdue University before signing with New Mexico State. NMSU is a member of the Western Athletic Conference and is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

"We are incredibly proud of Clayton," said Peabody. "He didn't get much, if any attention coming out of high school and he had never played his position. He came here, bought in to our system and put on 30 pounds of muscle.  And now he's developed into a first team all-conference tight end  and should be an academic All-American this year."

Scoggins was a two-year force on the offensive line for the Vikings. He was recently named first-team all-conference as well as first-team all-state at the offensive guard position. Behind his blocking, the Vikings has the state's leading offense, averaging 545.8 yards per game.

Scoggins chose Iowa State over the University of Toledo and the University of Southern Mississippi. ISU is located in Ames, Iowa and competes in the Big 12 Conference.

"Patrick Scoggins is the most physically dominant lineman I've ever coached during my career," said Peabody. "It starts with his work ethic and attitude. He is the epitome of hard work. Whoever we played on the field felt his impact."

It was an outstanding year for the LBCC football program. The Vikings compiled a 9-2 overall record and were champions of the Beach Bowl. Peabody expects up to 20 more members of the 2014 Viking football team to sign letters of intent when the regular signing period for football begins on February 4, 2015.