March 27, 2023

Cub Football - 2023 Varsity schedule set - Football news - Pre-Spring outlook

LOYOLA 2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE SET

Loyola has released its 2023 Varsity football schedule as Spring practice is just around the corner. While the order of Angelus League games is different, every opponent on the ten-contest regular season slate is the same as the 2022 campaign, which saw the Cubs earn a share of the league title for a third consecutive season.

2023 LOYOLA VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

August 25          @ Damien
September 1      Culver City
September 8      Pasadena
September 15    @ Chaminade
September 22    Oaks Christian
September 29    @ St. Francis*
October 6           St. Paul*
October 13         @ Crespi*
October 20         Paraclete*
October 29         @ Cathedral* 
(* denotes Angelus League game)

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS OF CUB SENIORS
JORDAN HEWITT, DB (UCLA)
LEIGHTON LINE, DL (Cal Lutheran)
JACK PARIS, OL (MIT)
XAVIER RICE (Duquesne)
JACK SUSNJAR, OL (USC)
WILKE WILES, WR (University of Chicago)

Above is the current list of college destinations for graduating senior football players. There could be additions before the end of spring.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION AND COLLEGE HALL OF FAME HONOREES FROM LOYOLA
Three Loyola seniors were added to the long list of Cub football players who have been named scholar athletes by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The trio of Loyola athletes honored at SoFi Stadium on March 16 for their high accomplishments in the classroom and on the gridiron were quarterback XAVIER RICE, offensive tackle JACK SUSNJAR (All-State Medium Schools) and wide receiver WILKE WILES.

FORMER STAR LOYOLA RECEIVER WALKS ON AT TCU
PETER VANIS '22, an incredibly talented All-CIF wide receiver on Loyola's 2021 Angelus League championship team was invited by head coach Sonny Dykes to walk on to the the football team at National Champion runner-up TCU. Vanis, a member of a family of several former Cub football standouts beginning with his grandfather, Dr. Richard Vanis '64, has been opening eyes at the Horned Frogs' spring practices.

DAVID LONG, Jr. '16 SIGNS WITH LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
DAVID LONG, Jr., a first team All-American and first team All-State corner for Loyola in 2015, has a new home with the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders after a four-year stint with the Los Angeles Rams, for whom he started in the secondary on their 2022 Super Bowl championship team. Following his graduation from Loyola, Long was an All-Big 10 defensive back at Michigan.

Loyola currently has four graduates who are starters for NFL teams. In addition to LONG, ANTHONY BARR '10 is a linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys, MYLES BRYANT '16 is a starting defensive back with the New England Patriots and COLEMAN SHELTON '13 is a mainstay on the offensive line for the Los Angeles Rams.

FROM STUDENT COACH AT NORTHWESTERN TO GRAD ASSISTANT AT NOTRE DAME, MICHAEL BEARDEN '19 IS BLAZING AN IMPRESSIVE COACHING TRAIL
It is virtually unheard of for an undergraduate student at a Power 5 university to serve as a football coach for the college he attends, but that is what former Loyola quarterback MICHAEL BEARDEN '18 did during his years at Northwestern University. He clearly demonstrated his high intellect to serve as a student assistant under Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Following his graduation from Northwestern, Bearden served as a graduate assistant under Chip Kelly at UCLA. He recently accepted a grad assistant job under head coach Marcus Freeman at the University of Notre Dame where he will work with the Fighting Irish offense. Bearden is well on his way to success in collegiate coaching ranks.

PRE-SPRING LOOK AT THE CUBS
After earning a share of the Angelus League title and advancing to the semifinal round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs last fall, Loyola returns a large number of talented starters, including more than a few with FBS scholarship offers. How good can the Cubs be in 2023? A glimpse at their prospects will unfold at Spring Practice which is scheduled to commence on May 1.

RETURNING ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS
Six returning All-Angelus League players will be at the forefront of the quest for a fourth consecutive league title. The first team honorees (in alphabetical order) are JAKE ARELLANO (5-10, 175), senior safety; BRANDON LOCKHART (6-2, 170), sophomore corner; ISAIAH "IKE" SANDERS (6-3,  220), senior Edge; and CHAMP WESTBROOKS (6-4, 265), senior OL.

The second team All-Angelus League returnees (in alphabetical order) are SCOTT TAYLOR (6-3, 220), junior outside linebacker; and RYAN TURK (6-4, 287), senior OL (TURK is a monster in the weight room with a 650 lb. dead lift and 20 reps at 420).

The highly talented SANDERS, whose recruiting stock is fast rising, will be one of the state's best defenders in the Fall. He earned All-CIF honors last season. First team Freshman All-American LOCKHART is one of the best corners in the nation.

Senior KHALIL CUEVA (5-11, 175) came off an injury to have a big season last fall. He will lead a receiving corps that could be manned by some outstanding rising sophomores. Returning senior ZANE NUR (6-4, 175) is expected to make a splash at receiver as well.

Senior kicker/punter MARK HYAN (6-4, 210) has a strong leg and two years of varsity experience.

Other players who started multiple games include senior offensive lineman LUKE HARRISON (6-4, 270); senior DBs CHAZ AUSTIN (5-10, 165) and ELIJAH BRADLEY (6-1, 180); junior inside linebacker HENRY CASANI (6-1, 190); senior running back JUSTIN SMITH (5-10, 180) and Junior RB DESI VALDES (5-9, 175). 

Senior CARSON REAL (6-4, 225) is expected to vie for the starting tight end post.

The battle for the signal calling job will be worth watching. Among the contestants for the QB position will be junior THOMAS KNYAL and sophomores JACK THOMAS and MASYN HARVEY.

The Spring will provide a number of other players opportunities to get in the mix at multiple positions. Do not be surprised if a large number of rising sophomores from Loyola's undefeated freshman squad vie for starting roles and/or substantial playing time.