By Jacob Lee — Reporter
There are multiple components that make a great team.
The colleges that get the 4-star and 5-star recruits must be the schools that are the most successful right? Wrong.
San Jose State football has proven otherwise. As the season is wrapping up, the Spartans are still undefeated with a 6-0 record. The roster includes a lot of local players, including 18 transfers from junior colleges which are contributing to their success.
“We always want to have a good mix of junior college players and high school players,” head coach Brent Brennan said. “I think that is a key component to building a sustainable winning program.”
There is a notion that acquiring high school studs to play at the collegiate level is how teams win and that junior college players are not as good because they could not go to a four-year college right out of high school.
What isn’t praised enough is the leadership and maturity that comes with junior college athletes as well as the hustle and grind to make an impact on a Division I team from a junior college.
“I think those guys that are playing for us from the junior college have been impactful over time here,” Brennan said. “In our defensive front we have Jay Kakiva and Noah Wright having an impact right now.”
Jay Kakiva forced a crucial goal-line fumble in the third quarter of last week’s game against Nevada. Kakiva transferred from Fresno City College and has 11 tackles on the season including one tackle for a loss of yards.
Noah Wright, another Spartan who transferred from College of the Sequoias has 4 tackles on the season including 1 sack.
Foothill College defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator Brandon Younger spoke about how he prepares his players to transition to a four-year program.
“We try and prepare our guys to the best of our ability so that they can transition to the Division I level in a seamless manner,” Younger said. “That goes from professional development to weight training to how we prepare them throughout the week schematically teaching them how to watch film and how to prepare themselves for their opponent the upcoming week.”
Junior college transfers want to play at a higher level. This drive to get better and transfer to a Division I school means that they are able to bring extra motivation, leadership and maturity to a team
“I think junior college guys are more fit to come in and play right away as opposed to high school guys coming in,” Younger said.
SJSU men’s water polo head coach Bruce Watson played at De Anza College, transferred to SJSU and went on to compete for the USA national team.
“Junior colleges are great. If you go to the right place it is a huge stepping stone,” Watson said.
Watson is a member of the San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame and earned All-American honors in 1971 and 1972 as a Spartan.
Watson is an example of the success that can evolve from starting at a junior college. This stigma that if you go to a junior college you can’t be an elite athlete is untrue.
Yet, there are so many benefits to the junior college route such as experience and saving money.
SJSU’s football team deserves credit for their local recruiting and acquiring the components needed to have a successful season.
The staff that Brennan brought on when he took over the head coaching position has made an incredible impact on the success of the program.
Alonzo Carter, the Spartan’s running back coach and recruiting coordinator was recognized by 247Sports.com as the Mountain West Recruiter of the Year in 2019.
With the knowledge of what makes a great team and the members to execute this plan there is no ceiling on the possibilities for not only Spartan football but SJSU athletics as a whole.
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