September 1, 2022

Cub Football - Loyola leads state with former players on NFL teams - A look at Friday’s opponent

LOYOLA LEADS STATE WITH FOUR NFL 

Four former Cub football players are on NFL active rosters following the final cuts by the league’s professional teams this week. An article in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday reported that Loyola and L. B. Poly lead California high schools with former players in the NFL. The list of Cub grads in the NFL is as follows: 


ANTHONY BARR ‘10 - Dallas Cowboys
The former Serra League Most Valuable Offensive Player joined the Dallas Cowboys this summer after a standout career as a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker with the Minnesota Vikings by whom he was the number nine pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Barr was a two time All-American at UCLA and won the Lott Award as the nation’s best defensive player in his senior year as a Bruin.

DAVID LONG, JR. ‘16 - Los Angeles Rams
A high school All-American, All-State, All-CIF Division I corner for Loyola in 2015, Long just received a Super Bowl ring from the Los Angeles Rams for whom he is an outstanding defensive back. Long was an All-Big 10 corner at Michigan following his graduation from Loyola. Last season he had a pick six for the Rams.

COLEMAN SHELTON ‘13 - Los Angeles Rams
A two-way All-Angelus League lineman for the Cubs in 2012, Shelton was just named by head coach Sean McVay as the starting right guard for the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. A two-time All-Pac 12 offensive lineman at Washington, Shelton was named the Huskies’ Lineman of the Year as a senior. He had the rare distinction of playing all five offensive line positions during his career at Washington.
 

MYLES BRYANT ‘16 - New England Patriots
Loyola’s team MVP, Bryant was a multi-purpose star for the 2015 Cub squad that finished ranked 17th in the state. An All-State honoree and All-Mission league DB, Bryant went on to have a standout career in the secondary for Washington, where he earned All-Pac 12 accolades. He now is a key secondary player and punt returner for the Patriots.

CHRISTIAN RECTOR ‘15 - Edmonton Elks (CFL)
The Cubs’ Defensive MVP and All-Mission League defensive end in 2014, Rector earned All-Pac 12 honors as an edge player at USC. He is now playing for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League.

A LOOK AT FRIDAY’s OPPONENT CULVER CITY
Culver City (1-0) fared much better than Loyola (0-1) in its season opener last Friday, defeating West Torrance with ease, 35-14.

The Centaurs displayed a prolific aerial attack against the Warriors. Junior signal caller Sammy Silvia (6-3,185) completed 64% of his passes for 309 yards and five touchdowns in his debut as the starter behind center.  His talented receiving corps averaged an impressive 19.3 yards per reception. Silvia’s top target is electric sophomore speedster Myles Singleton (6-1, 180) who had seven catches for 154 yards (22 yards per reception). Junior wideout Mateo Torres (5-11, 180) averaged 17.6 yards on his five catches.

Tough senior RB Maurice Burgess (5-10, 185) averaged 5.1 yards toting the ball against West Torrance. The Centaurs’ offensive line is big, strong and physical.

Culver City’s rugged defense is led by linebackers, junior Pierce Reynoso (5-10, 190), who had 16 tackles on Friday; senior Nick Badour (6-2, 195) (14 tackles); and athletic senior athlete Malik N. Lewis (6-3, 210).

OUTLOOK
The Centaurs are fast, very athletic and physical, and they will have the home field advantage. Loyola’s offense was anemic in the Cubs’ opener. If the Big Blue offense does not make a quantum leap on the road, the chances for a victory will not be good. On the flip side, the Cub secondary will be tested early and often. It will have to keep a keen eye on the sure handed, speedy Singleton. This contest may end up being a projection of the team’s 2022 trajectory.

THE SERIES
Loyola and Culver City met on the gridiron for the first time on Smith Field last season. The Cubs tied a school scoring record en route to a 62-21 rout of the Centaurs.

MORE LOYOLA FOOTBALL NEWS
Former Cub All-American and State Defensive Back of the Year, redshirt freshman CEYAIR WRIGHT ‘21 has been listed as a starting corner for USC.

All four of the former Cubs who are on NFL rosters have played as starters. Last fall marked the first time that two Loyola grads (DAVID LONG, JR. and COLEMAN SHELTON) played on the same Super Bowl team. Both are expected to play big roles for the Rams this season.

Two Cub grads, UCLA DB ALEX JOUNSON ‘18 and Bruin kicker NICHOLAS BARR-MIRA ‘19 were recently awarded scholarships by head coach Chip Kelly.