Things I’m hearing …

Screw it. Rather than tweet this all out, I figured I’d give you some quick hits on the stuff I’ve been hearing while compiling info for the football preview magazine.

Starting with Glendora. Junior QB Bryce Woolridge is supposed to be a chip off the old block. The campus that brought you Jacob Crook, Chad Jeffries and Matt Fink, now has another talented signal caller. Woolridge is supposed to be very athletic, too, and won’t hesitate to run. Glendora’s JV team was 9-1 last season and supposedly clobbered everyone in the Palomares League. I was all set to proclaim Claremont the next great thing. The Pack has freakshow LB Solomon Tuliapupu (17 offers) and RB Duy Tran-Sampson back, but things aren’t so good at QB. There’s literally NOBODY to play the position. Word is that during a recent passing tourney, the first several passes landed five yards short of the target. Bonita lost 28 seniors to graduation but the frosh (now soph) class is loaded. A few of those sophs are going to play big roles this season. Others, though, are showing they aren’t quite up to varsity speed yet. Arroyo is going to use All-Area linebacker and reigning Mission Valley League MVP Jason Villa at QB. The Knights have what some say is Jim Singiser’s best team. I need to see it with my own eyes because Singiser has had some sick teams. But I hear this one will knock your ass for a loop … loaded with tough guys. As most of you know, Northview got a big boost when former West Covina RB Kevin Thomas transferred in. The big question now is whether Thomas will be eligible right away or a sit-out. West Covina should be okay at RB, though, as Henry Martinez, a 1,000-yard rusher two seasons ago, is back from a knee injury suffered in last season’s first game. The long awaited arrival of Bret Clemetson as Charter Oak’s QB is set to happen. Clemetson was a very hyped athlete when he arrived at CO and pushed Kam Brown for the starting QB job two years ago. He was injured last season. Don’t expect CO to miss a beat in the pass game. Chino may ruin all of our local teams’ dreams, though, in the Hacienda League. The Cowboys are getting back stud linebacker Brandon Serrano from a injury that cost him last season. And that’s to go along with the return of FB/LB Adrian Alfaro. Los Altos has everything it needs, but has a question mark at QB where Cody Olmos appears to be the man. Diamond Bar’s semifinals appearance at last week’s SGV Shootout was a bit of a surprise. Coach Marcus Hughes actually likes his line play … which has been the Brahmas’ achilles’ heel. If the Brahmas have some skill guys, too, they may surprise. Speaking of surprise teams, Arcadia is my surprise team in the west SGV. The Apaches continue to bring in talent and the line is going to be much bigger this season (it’s hard not to be). Watch out for soph RB Jahlique Stephens. I tapped out. I have plenty more and will post in the coming days.