Little Acorns sprout into NFL giants

THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN CLEATS—Zach Charbonnet, left, sacks Westlake QB Jake Kaplinski for Oaks Christian Excessive’s soccer workforce on Nov. 3, 2017. Charbonnet, a Camarillo native, is a second-year NFL working again with the Seattle Seahawks. ROB VARELA/Acorn Newspapers

The NFL, America’s hottest professional sports activities league, kicks off a brand new soccer season this week.

Legends of Acorn nation are able to rumble, whereas the top coach of Southern California’s least standard workforce (the con artists previously often known as the San Diego Spanos Meat Muppets), Jim “Cheats in Khakis” Harbaugh, devises new methods to fish with dynamite.

It’s go time.

Alex Singleton, the most important mensch within the Conejo Valley, can be one of many NFL’s greatest linebackers. Singleton, a Thousand Oaks Excessive graduate, is a big advocate for Particular Olympics and runs camps for youths at his outdated stomping grounds. Singleton recorded a career-high 177 tackles final season, a Denver Broncos workforce report. He broke the Philadelphia Eagles’ single-season report for tackles with 137 stops in 2021.

The Los Angeles Rams not observe in Thousand Oaks—they practice in Woodland Hills—however native followers cheer for Rams tight finish Colby Parkinson. The Simi Valley man starred on the soccer area at Oaks Christian, and he signed a three-year contract with the Rams in March after toiling with the Seattle Seahawks in his first 4 professional seasons.

 

Drake London of Moorpark is primed for a breakout third season with the Atlanta Falcons. The huge receiver had 69 receptions for 902 yards and two touchdowns in 2023, and that was a quiet 12 months by London’s requirements. Barring accidents, Acorn Sports activities Island can be shocked if the Falcon doesn’t rack up at the very least 110 catches, 1,200 receiving yards, double-digit touchdowns and Professional Bowl honors.

Michael Pittman Jr. of Oaks Christian, a fifth-year professional for the Indianapolis Colts, had 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and 4 scores final season. He’s a Professional Bowl caliber huge receiver.

Camarillo’s Zach Charbonnet, who performed at Oaks Christian, is a second-year working again for the Seahawks. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry with zero fumbles on 108 carries, 462 yards and one landing as a 2023 rookie.

Darnay Holmes, who graduated from Calabasas after stints with Newbury Park and Oaks Christian, enters his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Holmes, a cornerback with two interceptions final fall, spent his first 4 seasons within the NFL with the New York Giants. The Giants play in New Jersey, not New York.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, who had 11 ½ sacks for the Giants final 12 months, is a third-year exterior linebacker from Oaks Christian.

Bryan Anger of Camarillo is a Professional Bowl and All-Professional punter for the Dallas Cowboys. The 35-year-old is in his thirteenth NFL season. He averaged a career-best 51.4 yards per punt final 12 months.

Patrick Mekari of Westlake is a sixth-year veteran offensive lineman with the Baltimore Ravens.

Michael Wilson, a Simi Valley native who prepped at Chaminade of West Hills, is a receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. Receiver Andre Baccellia of Westlake is on the Cardinals’ observe squad.

Tremendous Bowl champion quarterback Ryan Griffin (Westlake native/Chaminade grad) is a first-year offensive assistant coach with the Chicago Bears.

Au revoir, Spanos Meat Muppets.