Logan McClain, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound defensive end who earned all-Rio Hondo League honorable mention last season at Blair, plans to play at Maranatha this season.
McClain was one of few players in limbo at Blair after the school couldn’t find a head coach until last Friday when it gave Johnny Lopez the job.
Several of Blair’s top returners had already transferred to other schools. McClain, however, was waiting to see what became of the coaching and player situation at Blair before deciding what to do.
“He’s started the application process,” Maranatha coach Pete Karavedas confirmed late Thursday. “We would love to have him, but we need to see the application process through.”
McClain has interest from several colleges, according to his father Carl. He would bolster a Maranatha roster that could use a talent of his caliber along the defensive line and possibly on offense.
If Blair is unable to field a varsity team, McClain would be eligible right away under current CIF rules. If Blair does have a varsity team, McClain would likely have to sit out until Oct. 1.
Lopez is adamant Blair will have enough players to a field a varsity roster. The 50-year-old coach would not disclose how many players he has on his roster, but video shot of Blair’s practice on Wednesday showed just eight players in attendance. The Vikings finished last season with 12.
Aram’s take: Nice get for Maranatha. More on that in a bit. It’s time for Blair to drop the blind optimism act and start being realistic. There are 10 opponents on the schedule who would like the opportunity to start making other plans if the Vikings aren’t going to have a varsity team. Not to mention, there are probably a handful of players like McClain who don’t want to be in limbo. I don’t know where or how 20-30 players will suddenly show up on the practice field at Blair, but even if they do, with no spring ball, no summer passing games or practices (until reently) and no weight room sessions, having a varsity team is now a SAFETY ISSUE. It’s simply not fair to put kids who would run through walls in search of Friday Night glory in harm’s way. They need to be protected from themselves … OK, about Maranatha. You never know how a talent like McClain is going to blossom at a school like Maranatha. He could turn into one of the better defensive players in the area now that’s he got a supporting cast and consistent practice time under the guidance of high-quality coaches. If McClain thrives, an already talented Maranatha gets that much scarier.
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