Bishop Amat, already thin after graduating several standouts that helped it win back-to-back Mission League titles and advance to consecutive CIF-Southern Section PAC-5 Division semifinals, is losing arguably its best returning senior just a couple weeks before its mammoth season opener against highly touted Mater Dei on Aug. 26.
Senior wide receiver and defensive back Tyler Sweet left school this week and transferred to Upland, sources have confirmed.
Why Sweet transferred so close to the start of the season is surprising, but speculation is rampant that it may have to do with how Bishop Amat handled his older brother, Torreahno Sweet, who graduated this past spring.
Tyler Sweet and his family chose not to comment when reached, and Bishop Amat coach Steve Hagerty hasn’t returned messages seeking comment.
Torreahno Sweet led the Lancers to back-to-back Mission League titles and consecutive Pac-5 Division semifinals, and was named the Mission League offensive player of the year.
However, Torreahno Sweet was suspended twice last season and clashed with the coaching staff and particularly Hagerty on a number of issues that didn’t sit well with Torreahno or the Sweet family, sources say.
Sweet rushed for 1,971 yards and 35 touchdowns despite missing seven quarters due to suspension, and his 37 total touchdowns eclipsed Donnie McCleskey’s season record of 29 touchdowns set in 2001. Sweet also set the school record for rushing yards in a game with 380 against Oaks Christian.
However, when the season was over Torreahno Sweet was unhappy with the help from the coaching staff in helping him reach out to recruiters in hopes of earning a scholarship. After watching several of his peers earn scholarships, Torreahno Sweet, one of the best backs in one of the toughest leagues and divisions in the country, was shocked he wasn’t receiving Division I offers. There was wide speculation that it was because of the negative attention Sweet received due his suspensions at Amat.
After months of speculation that he would come up dry, Sweet finally earned a scholarship to Western Oregon in late July to play baseball and football.
Whether that led to Tyler Sweet and his family opting to transfer to Upland this week is speculative, but the timing is curious.
Tyler Sweet only caught 12 receptions for 236 yards last season, but he’s a speedy athlete who was expected to help Amat in a variety of ways on offense.