He has yet to play a single high school football game, but at press time, freshman quarterback Jack Heaslet had offers from 13 four-year universities.
Oklahoma, Syracuse and Louisville were among the schools that made offers to Heaslet, who is scheduled to play for St. Joseph in the 2024 high school season.
St. Joseph coach Pepe Villasenor said Heaslet is in the running for the starting quarterback position along with junior Dylan Crisp, who played primarily as a wide receiver last year.
“They are both making fantastic progress,” said Villasenor. “They are making the progress I want to see. They still have a lot to learn, but I believe that with the experience from the preseason games they will be ready when the time comes.”
Who the St. Joseph quarterback will throw the ball to is an open question. Collin Fasse, the Knights’ record-setting wide receiver, has graduated and is a preferred walk-on at USC.
An injury sidelined Fasse for the first half of his final season, and Caleb Murawski was a productive receiver for the Knights in 2024. Villasenor said Murawski will play this year but is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last winter.
“It’s going to be a collage of guys,” Villasenor said of St. Joseph’s receivers. “There’s Matthew Auau, James Laggren, Dominic Rucobo. They’re all very good athletes.”
Laggren was one of the premier defensive backs in the area last year. This year he will also serve as a wide receiver. Auau will also return to St. Joseph’s defensive backfield and serve as a wide receiver. Rucobo will transfer from St. Joseph’s junior team in 2023.
Heaslet didn’t seem worried as his first varsity season approached.
“I was able to participate in many training camps with my teammates on my seven-on-seven team in Los Angeles,” Heaslet said. “My coaches prepared me for the spotlight.”
“I did my best to prepare for moments like this and trained in LA and Florida.”
Although he was primarily used as a wide receiver, “I got a few calls at quarterback last year,” Crisp said. “I went to a few camps over the summer. I think things are going pretty well.”
As for the Knights team, “I think everyone is getting along well as a group,” Auau said. “Everyone is in a good mood.”
St. Joseph had another strong season in 2023 under Villasenor, then in his sixth year as coach, but for the first time since 2017, the Knights failed to win or share a league title.
Last year was the first time the Knights failed to win a league title with Villasenor as coach.
The Knights were eliminated in the first round of the CIF Central Section Division 1 playoffs. Here’s a look ahead to the Knights in 2024. St. Joseph will open at Tulare Union on August 23 at 7 p.m.
2023 record: 8-3 (6-1 Mountain League).
Carter Vargas, the 2023 Times All-Area Football Team MVP and St. Joseph’s best running back in years, has graduated. Vargas committed to UC Davis in his senior year. In addition to Crisp, running back Adam Cecchi also returns.
St. Joseph also has a new addition at running back, Abraham Meza. “The truth is, (Cecchi and Meza) will split time,” Villasenor said. The best receivers currently appear to be Auau, Laggren and Rucobo.
Most of the 2023 starters have graduated, but Michael Ventura and Dane Mussell return and are expected to help solidify the unit.
AJ Gogo made a big impression as a rookie defensive end and is now back, as are veterans Eliseo Zepeda and Dylan Shartzer.
Mark Pullman, the defensive MVP of the 2023 Times All-Area Football Team, has graduated. Jamar Jefferies gave the Knights some solid minutes last year and is now back. Fellow 2023 St. Joseph backers Fred Munoz and Hunter Garber are also back.
Laggren emerged as one of the premier DBs in the area last year, and he and Auau are expected to lead the Knights’ secondary.
In addition to Heaslet, Rucobo and Meza, Dominic Oropeza and Nicky Romero are also listed as top newcomers from St. Joseph.
Chase Untal, Gabriel Cortes and Karson Jackson will handle punting and kicking duties for the Knights this year.
In addition to head coach Villasenor, St. Joseph’s assistants include defensive coordinators Ryan Labastida and Jim Chvala, offensive coordinators Curry Parham and Jason Harrison, and specialty coaches Ali Azziz and Steven Rucobo.
