Cal Poly Football Adds 17 New Recruits During Early Signing Period
12/5/2025 2:22:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Cal Poly football has added 17 players during the December early signing period. The class includes 15 high school signees and two junior college transfers.
The 2025 signees are, listed alphabetically: EDGE Ryder Barnes, OL Garrett Bertsch, WR Tyler Caldwell, WR Caleb Clark, EDGE Charlie “Chuck” Eckl, LB Jarred Geissberger, DB Savaughn Gentle, RB Koen Glover, OL Blake Graham, DB Paul Holland IV, OL Malachi Johnston, TE Will McKissick, DL Julian Njelita, DB Demetrius Simon, QB Berell Staples, TE Finley Torrico, and DB Jasen Womack.
Among the signees are several three-star recruits, rated by at least one of the following: 247Sports, 247Composite, Rivals.com, or On3 Consensus. The class includes standout defensive talent, a strong group of edge rushers and defensive backs, and key offensive additions at quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, and offensive line. More about the signees:
OL Blake Graham, Leuzinger HS (Calif.)
A three-star recruit, Graham is a 6-3, 280-pound offensive lineman from Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, Calif. He was a 2024 CIF Southern Section All-State nominee and received offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, and Colorado. Graham appeared in three games as a senior and recorded one tackle.
DB Demetrius Simon, McLane HS (Calif.)
Simon is a three-star defensive back from McLane High School in Fresno, Calif. The 6-0, 160-pound standout was named the 2025 North Yosemite League Specialist of the Year and earned offers from Arizona, Sacramento State, and UC Davis. As a sophomore, he totaled 21 receptions for 360 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games.
WR Caleb Clark, Arroyo Grande HS (Calif.)
Clark, a three-star wide receiver from nearby Arroyo Grande High School, stands 6-2 and weighs 175 pounds. The 2024 Mountain League MVP was a four-year varsity player who finished his career with 3,792 all-purpose yards in 43 games. As a senior, he posted 844 rushing yards and 677 receiving yards. Clark also held offers from Idaho, Nevada, and Portland State.
LB Jarred Geissberger, Marin Catholic HS (Calif.)
Geissberger is a three-star linebacker from Marin Catholic High School in the Bay Area who stands 6-2 and weighs 200 pounds. A 2024 NorCal All-State nominee, he also earned First Team All-League honors on offense in the Redwood Empire Football League. In six games as a senior, Geissberger totaled 349 all-purpose yards and received offers from Northern Arizona, Portland State, and UC Davis.
OL Malachi Johnston, Santa Barbara HS (Calif.)
Johnston is a three-star offensive lineman from Santa Barbara High School. The 6-3, 260-pound lineman earned Cal-Hi Sports All-State honors for medium schools, landing on the third-team offense. A team captain, he appeared in 32 career varsity games and added two blocked kicks during his career. Holding a 4.3 GPA, Johnston also received offers from Colgate, Cornell, Nevada, and Portland State.
TE Finley Torrico, Aliso Niguel HS (Calif.)
As a senior at Aliso Niguel High School, Torrico posted 234 receiving yards and anchored the tight end position. The 6-6, 255-pound senior finished his career with 494 receiving yards across 22 varsity games. A consistent target in the passing game, he also held offers from Montana and Northern Arizona.
DB Jasen Womack, Oak Ridge HS (Calif.)
Standing 6-1 and 190 pounds, Womack is a defensive back from Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, Calif. and the 2025 SFL Defensive Co-Player of the Year. A productive defender throughout his career, he totaled 13 interceptions and 317 return yards in 42 varsity games, including four interceptions as a senior. Womack also received offers from Colorado State, Northern Arizona, and UNLV.
DB Paul Holland IV, Washington Union HS (Calif.)
Holland IV played defensive back at Washington Union High School in Easton, Calif., where the 6-1, 160-pound senior totaled 204 tackles and five interceptions over 42 career varsity games. He recorded 62 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss as a senior, continuing a four-year trend of consistency. A three-star recruit, Holland IV also held offers from Air Force, Colorado State, Montana State, and Northern Arizona.
WR Tyler Caldwell, Vista Murrieta HS (Calif.)
Caldwell is a 6-5, 185-pound wide receiver from Vista Murrieta High School who finished his career with 1,576 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. As a senior, he posted 523 yards and five touchdowns on 43 receptions, following an 834-yard, nine-touchdown junior season. Caldwell was also a Top 7 wide receiver at the VTO Elite Camp, earning an invitation to the All-American Showcase. He held offers from Air Force, Dartmouth, Eastern Washington, and Nevada.
QB Berell Staples, McClymonds HS (Calif.)
A three-star quarterback from McClymonds High School in Oakland Calif., Staples threw for 3,280 yards and 42 touchdowns across 18 varsity games. As a sophomore, he passed for 2,421 yards and 34 touchdowns while completing nearly 60 percent of his attempts. Widely recognized as one of the state’s top young quarterbacks, he was featured by Sporting News as one of the Top 20 quarterbacks in California entering 2025. Staples also held offers from Portland State and UNLV.
OL Garrett Bertsch, Los Gatos HS (Calif.)
Bertsch is a three-star offensive lineman from Los Gatos High School who stands 6-4 and weighs 230 pounds. A 2025 Preseason All-Northern California Third-Team selection on offense, he chose Cal Poly over offers from Brown, Cornell, and Lehigh. Bertsch appeared in 15 career varsity games and also contributed defensively early in his career.
DL Julian Njelita, Heritage HS (Calif.)
Njelita is a three-star defensive lineman from Heritage High School in Brentwood, Calif. who stands 6-4 and weighs 250 pounds. He finished his career with 45 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss across 21 varsity games, including a 32-tackle junior season. Njelita also received offers from New Mexico and Northern Arizona.
EDGE Charlie “Chuck” Eckl, Dana Hills HS (Calif.)
Over four varsity seasons at Dana Hills, Eckl developed into one of the region’s most productive edge rushers, finishing his career with 14.0 sacks and 125 tackles. He posted 11.0 sacks and 54 tackles as a junior and added 2.0 more sacks in a shortened senior season. The 6-3, 215-pound defensive lineman also earned an offer from Northern Arizona.
EDGE Ryder Barnes, Crean Lutheran HS (Calif.)
Barnes is a 6-3, 230-pound edge rusher from Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, Calif. who totaled 126 tackles and 18.0 tackles for loss across 23 varsity games. He recorded 59 tackles, 8.0 TFL, and 6.0 sacks as a senior, following a 67-tackle junior season. A disruptive presence on the field, Barnes also received offers from Arkansas State, Bethune-Cookman, Colorado State, and Florida.
RB Koen Glover, Ventura College
Glover joins Cal Poly after a standout season at Ventura College, where he rushed for 682 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per carry. The 5-10, 205-pound running back appeared in 11 games for the Pirates and posted 62.0 rushing yards per game. A three-star recruit and former senior starter at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, Calif., Glover recorded zero fumbles lost during the season.
DB Savaughn Gentle, Paraclete HS (Calif.)
Gentle is a 6-1, 195-pound defensive back from Paraclete High School who recorded 52 tackles in 12 games as a senior. In two varsity seasons, he had 9 pass breakups, two interceptions, 129 tackles, and 4.0 tackles for loss. He was featured in the LA Daily News for his role in Paraclete’s strong defensive unit alongside his brother SJ, a freshman DB for the Mustangs. Gentle also received offers from Boise State, Eastern Washington, Portland State, and Sacramento State.
TE Will McKissick, Golden West College
McKissick transfers to Cal Poly after helping Golden West College to an 11-0 season (7-0 in conference play) and a No. 1 ranking in the SCFA National Division. The 6-3, 261-pound tight end recorded 25 receptions, 315 yards, and four touchdowns in his year at Golden West. Before playing for Golden West in Huntington Beach Calif., McKissick played at the varsity level at St. John Bosco High School, where he was teammates with former Mustang WR Logan Booher.
