Orange Coast College

Football: Six former Pirates ready to move on

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

COSTA MESA -- Several Orange Coast College football players have announced on Wednesday their athletic and academic plans at the four-year university level, according to head coach Mike Taylor.

Included in that mix are six OCC standouts that have caught the eye of several top-quality universities. Those moving on include linebacker Shaun Mohler (University of Colorado), linebacker Matt Harris (Montana State University), defensive back Chris Holmesly (Idaho State University), wide receiver Nathan Barnett (West Texas A&M), quarterback Chris Debowski (Marist College) and Class of 2007 defensive back Chris Assily (University of Alabama-Birmingham).

Mohler (left), a 6-foot-3, 217-pounder from Corona del Mar HS, was on the wish list of several big-name universities, but in the end, he decided on making Boulder, CO his home for the next couple of years. At OCC, Mohler led the team in tackles both as a freshman (108 total tackles) and as a sophomore (93 total tackles). His 201 career tackles places him seventh on Coast's all-time list. Twice, Mohler was awarded the Craig Zaltowski MVP Award for the Pirates and last year, he won the Bill Jenkins Hitter of the Year Award. As a freshman, he also was named the team's Most Outstanding Linebacker and a first-team, All-Mission Conference selection. Last year, he led the Mission Conference with 18.5 tackles for loss and was named the MC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Holmesly (right), a 5-10, 185-pounder from Mission Viejo HS, had 50 tackles, two interceptions and was a constant threat on the Pirates' special teams. As a freshman, he totaled 39 tackles, led the team with three blocked kicks and tied for the team lead with four interceptions. He was a second-team, All-Mission Conference selection as a freshman and a second-team all-conference standout as a sophomore.

Barnett (left), a 5-9, 180-pounder from Dana Hills HS, led the Pirates with 34 receptions for 394 yards and two touchdowns last year. However, he earned first-team All-Mission Conference honors as a kick returner after he led the conference with 601 return yards and averaged 27.3 yards per attempt. As a freshman, Barnett had 14 receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns and again earned first-team, All-Mission Conference honors with 14 kickoff returns for 459 yards and two touchdowns.

Debowski (right), a 6-foot, 200-pounder from Fountain Valley HS, returned the starting lineup early in the season last year and racked up 746 passing yards and five touchdowns on 66-of-136 passing. As a freshman, he started for the Pirates in the U.S. Bank Beach Bowl against Mt. San Antonio and threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Debowski and teammate Shad Baichtal were named the Mike Musso Jr. Most Inspirational players for the Pirates in 2007.

Assily (left) played for the Pirates in 2005 and 2006 and amassed 95 tackles and eight interceptions over his two-year career. Originally slated to play for San Jose State, the 2006-07 OCC Male Athlete of the Year decided to make the change to attend UAB. Assily earned all-conference, All-Southern California Region IV and All-American honors following his sophomore season. He was also the Bill Jenkins Memorial Award winner as well as the Hitter of the Year in 2006 for the Pirates.

Harris (right), a 6-1, 230-pounder from Mission Viejo HS, racked up 70 tackles, including 12 TFL as a sophomore. In 2006, he garnered 63 tackles for the Pirates. Last year, he was named the team's Most Outstanding Linebacker.

OCC RB Andrew Banks (310 carries, 1,172 yards, 10 TDs) will walk on next year at the University of Oregon and OL Junior Taormina will walk on at Oklahoma State next year, according to Taylor.