Recruiting blitz hasn't sacked El Cerrito

EL CERRITO, Calif. — Turning off his cell phone ringer wasn't enough for Kenny Kahn. He had to turn it over to not see it lighting up 5-6 times every hour.

The 31-year-old El Cerrito (Calif.) football coach is blessed and burdened with leading a team that features three of the state's top 20 recruits according to 247Sports, UCLA-bound defensive back Adarius Pickett (No. 18) along with Arizona State commits Jalen Harvey (No. 13), a receiver and safety, and linebacker Derik Calhoun (No. 20).

Make no mistake. Kahn loves coaching the versatile and vivacious trio, who he says actually contribute to about nine positions. Each starts both ways and contributes on special teams as well.

"Team guys, very talented, very vocal — they care about the program," Kahn said.

They've also led the Gauchos on a stellar two-year run that has featured a 24-3 record, state rankings and two straight North Coast Section Division III title games.

See all California football brackets

Last season, they lost a 31-28 heartbreaker to Marin Catholic (Kentfield) that would have secured a Northern California regional berth and likely state bowl berth.

Instead, Marin Catholic, led by current Cal quarterback and Metro Player of the Year Jared Goff, earned all the attention, losing to Madison-San Diego 38-35 in the D3 state bowl finals.

On Friday at Burrell Field in San Leandro, El Cerrito (11-2) can help erase that painful defeat with a rematch against Marin Catholic (12-0) for the NCS D3 title.

"It's going to be fun — two equally talented teams going toe-to-toe again," Kahn said. "We remember how our season ended last year and our guys don't want to have that feeling again."

Along with all the fun and attention, however, has come distraction and stress. College coaches, recruiting reporters and general college football fans constantly demand time and attention, which goes with the recruiting process.

Complicating matters, is that Calhoun (USC) and Harvey (Cal) each switched their original commitments around midseason. The Gauchos, too, have other Division I senior recruits in quarterback Keilan Benjamin, his twin Keith Benjamin, a receiver, safety Marquis Pippins. Kahn is also receiving calls about 6-foot-4, 340-pound freshman lineman Aaron Banks, who was named first team All-Tri-County Rock division last week.

The trio has had plenty to do with that.

* Pickett was the TCL MVP and a first-team member on both offense and defense. Pickett is recruited as a cornerback but the Gauchos needed to fill a void at running back and the 5-11, 180-pounder has responded with more than 1,000 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns.

Kahn said UCLA coaches are talking about a possible two-way role for Pickett like current Bruins' freshman Myles Jack.

"Highest GPA on the team, team captain, he can be serious and goofy just when the moment is right," Kahn said. "He's just a great kid. His passion for the game is uncanny."

* Harvey (6-1, 180) is a fourth-year starter and game breaker, who last week caught two TD passes and returned a punt 72 yards for another score. Known for his offense, Harvey "has been imposing his will at strong safety," Kahn said. "He can play on either side of the ball in college."

* Calhoun (6-1, 215), who has run a 4.66-second 40-yard dash, has played all three linebacker spot and is considered the hardest hitter in the Bay Area. He also stands out at fullback and catches the ball effectively. "Seeing him in the backfield is very daunting," Kahn said.

All of the recruiting fuss might have contributed to losses to Bellarmine (28-25) and Campolindo-Moraga (42-27), a defeat it reversed last week in a 49-34 road win. The Gauchos were also missing Harvey in the loss to Bellarmine.

Kahn isn't about to make excuses. And he recognizes what a fantastic opportunity it is for his players to be in. Kahn himself was an non-recruited player before attending UC Santa Cruz, where he studied literature. He would have loved to play college football, but he loves to coach high school football even more.

Sometimes, however, recruiting can get in the way of coaching. The trick is balancing it all.

"The cell phone age always make you accessible," said Kahn, an El Cerrito graduate who is in his sixth season as head coach. "I'm still sort of old fashioned. I like to talk with people face to face.

"I've had the opportunity to fall flat on my face with such a talented group. But I've received great support from the school and my coaching staff. It's been stressful at times, but we've persevered and we're right where we want to be."

Game notes: Though Goff, who accounted for 4,024 yards and 48 touchdowns last year, is gone, his replacement Morgan Mahalak has almost matched him. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Oregon-bound quarterback through 12 games Mahalak has thrown for 2,494 yards (in just 226 attempts) with 35 touchdowns (only four interceptions) and 551 rushing yards and seven TDs. “He’s very good and makes all the plays,” Kahn said. … Marin Catholic is blessed with one of the Bay Area’s best all-around players in wide receiver-defensive back-kicker Andrew Celis (52 catches, 1,201 yards, 15 touchdowns), under-rated running back-safety Sam Kilpack (85, 846 yards, 15 TDs), hard-charging sophomore tailback Darius Peterson (48, 630, 13), stout lines and one of the region’s best linebackers in Anthony Guisti (6-1, 215). … Marin Catholic doesn’t possess the speed of El Cerrito, but it is far from slow. “They’re always in position,” Kahn said. “It’s going to be one heck of a test.”