Twelve Division I Offers Highlight MJC Football's 2024 Success
The Modesto Junior College (MJC) Football program has once again proven itself as a launchpad for elite student-athletes, with 12 players from the 2024 squad earning Division I offers — a testament to the program's sustained excellence under Head Coach Rusty Stivers and his staff.
This latest accomplishment adds to an already dominant era for MJC Football, marked by both team success and a proven transfer pipeline. Since 2016, the Pirates have:
- Accumulated 58 Division I transfers in just eight seasons
- Made the postseason every year (9-for-9)
- Captured 5 Conference Titles, including an historic #4Peat (2021–2024) — MJC's longest streak since the 1940s
- Reached the 3C2A State Playoffs five times
- Produced a .644 winning percentage (65-36) — the best in MJC Football history
- Helped generate over $1 million annually in football scholarship aid for five consecutive years
- Transferred approximately 155 student-athletes to four-year programs since 2015
2024: Another Year of Excellence
The 2024 MJC Football team lived up to the program's lofty standard, finishing as:
- Valley Conference Champions
- #4 Ranked Team in California
- #12 Nationally Ranked by JC Gridiron
The Pirates were led by All-American MVPs on both sides of the ball:
- Offensive MVP: Luke Weaver (QB – Hawaii)
- Defensive MVP: Alijah Cota (LB – SEMO)
Weaver and Cota are two of 12 players from the 2024 team to receive Division I offers, a group that includes:
Quarterbacks:
- Luke Weaver – Hawaii
Wide Receivers:
- Joey Stout – Northern Arizona
- Trace Hernandez – San Jose State
Tight Ends:
- Glen Weber – Fresno State Offer
Offensive Line:
- Cody Weaver – Eastern Illinois
- Navi Arrechte – Mercyhurst
Defensive Line:
- Mario Savala – Sac State
Linebackers:
- Alijah Cota – SEMO
Defensive Backs:
- Jaelen Nichols – Campbell
- Kainoa Ontai – Hawaii
- Roland Brown – Western Illinois Offer
- Elmo Wartson – Campbell Offer
Building a Division I Legacy
Coach Stivers and his staff have turned MJC into a consistent powerhouse, known not only for its competitive success but also for its ability to elevate players to the next stage in their athletic and academic careers. MJC's current success is built on a foundation of standout alumni who have made their mark at the next level:
Quarterbacks:
- Wyatt Clapper – Sac State (2016)
- Danny Velasquez – Portland State / Fresno State (2017)
- Gino Campiotti – UMass (2021)
Running Backs:
- Jay Green – Southern Utah (2016)
- Devan Bass – Western Michigan (2018)
- Anthony Frias – Kansas State / UCLA (2021)
- Aiden Taylor – Idaho State (2022)
Wide Receivers:
- Ravon Alexander – Boise State (2016)
- Michael Thompson – Eastern Michigan (2017)
- Tiki Tonga – Utah (2017)
- Anderson Grover – Washington State / Sac State (2019)
- Darius Hyde – San Diego State (2021)
- Jacob DeJesus – UNLV / Cal (2022)
- Bronson England – Morehead State (2023)
Tight Ends:
- Rory Hansen – Fresno State (2019)
- Holden Baldwin – UC Davis (2022)
- Everett Hunter – New Mexico (2022)
Offensive Line:
- Vaa Sauvao – Colorado (2017)
- Ron Sharlou – University of San Diego (2017)
- Paul Sogialofa – Missouri State / Sac State (2019)
- Jaiden Brinkman – Tennessee Tech (2021)
- Alex Ramirez – Idaho State (2022)
- Josh Grabowski – Nevada (2022)
- Logan Wong – Morehead State (2023)
- Tyler McMahan – San Diego State (2023)
Defensive Backs:
- Brandon Dabney – Lamar (2016)
- Evan Camarena – Portland State (2017)
- Trae Nichols – Idaho (2018)
- Dangelo Bellamy – UTEP (2019)
- Dauson Booker – UTEP (2019)
- Zelmar Vedder – Sac State / Houston (2021)
Linebackers:
- Austin Martins – Valparaiso (2018)
- Ferrin Manulelua – Missouri State (2019)
- Kyle Jackson – Tarleton State (2022)
- Cam Snow – Houston Christian (2022)
- Peyton Bradford – Western Illinois (2022)
Defensive Line:
- Mustafa Johnson – Colorado (2017)
- Antonio Pule – Washington State (2018)
- Jereicho Taamu – San Jose State (2019)
- Josh Valdez – Marshall (2021)
- EJ Johnson – Sac State (2021)
- Ethan Day – Wyoming / North Texas (2022)
- Chris Ray – UTEP / Houston Christian (2023)
Specialists:
- Adam Johnston – Sac State (2023)
The Standard Remains High
With another Conference Title, more 3C2A Playoff appearances, and another crop of Division I-bound athletes, the message from MJC is clear: Excellence is expected, and advancement is earned. Under Coach Stivers, MJC Football has become a model program in California and across the nation for what a junior college football team can achieve — on the field, in the classroom, and at the next level. As the Pirates celebrate another successful season and prepare for the next, the message is clear: MJC Football is built to compete, built to develop, and built to win.