Feb 4, 2015 3 min read

Mike Kellar welcomed a small recruiting class Wednesday, but it has nothing to do with cutbacks, sanctions or revamping in the football program at California University.

It was a small class because it was supposed to be – Keller expects dozen players when it’s finally finished.

The reason for that is because the Vulcans have 18 redshirt freshmen in a class that followed a huge sophomore group that currently numbers 21.

“We’re pretty filled,” said Kellar. “Most of our starters are returning. Of our top 22, 16 are back.”

Speculation was high that major changes would be made to the football operations from the fallout over an incident that occurred near the end of last season, when six players allegedly were involved in beating a man in downtown California. The university created a task force to re-evaluate the program following the incident and the findings of an outside investigative body were released Tuesday. The main thrust dealt with closer supervision of the program.

“(The assault) gave the program a black eye,” said Kellar. “We have to deal with that, and there was a lot of soul searching going on to do this the right way.”

Kellar said there are no more restrictions “than at any other time. There is a process for admissions, checks and balances, that address some problems. We’re taking the report seriously, and we believe in recruiting high-character kids who have good work ethics. We’re not a football factory.”

Kellar said he is happy with this year’s recruiting class, which has a special emotional aspect for Kellar. His son Jarrod, a 6-2, 215-pound quarterback, has decided to come to Cal. Jarrod Kellar, a graduate of Lincoln High School in Shinnston, W.Va., was a West Virginia Class AA All-State selection and a member of the National Honor Society. He was being recruited by other Division II schools such as West Liberty, Concord, Shepherd and Charleston.

“Two weeks ago, I sat down and asked him what he wanted to do,” Mike Kellar said. “He said he wanted to go to Cal. I told him fine, but if there is someone better than you, you are going to sit.”

Mike Kellar said the plan is to red-shirt Jarrod, as it is with most freshmen.

“I realize he has the talents to be here,” said Mike Kellar. “He knows all of our plays because he’s been here over the summer and been to about 9,000 practices. I’ve never coached him, not even in little league. He’s a good kid, a tough kid. My staff told me they will let me know if I’m too hard on him here, but I don’t think that will happen.”

The recruiting class has local flavor with Ryan Stienstraw, a senior at McGuffey. Stienstraw is a 6-3, 245-pound lineman. Kellar got another WPIAL player in Averi Rose, a 6-0, 285-pound tackle from West Allegheny High School.

On the other side of the line, Christian DeGalbo, a 6-3, 270-pound center from Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School, has a chance to replace the graduate Jack Abercrombie, an All-American.

Kellar said he plans to replace assistant coach Mike Evans, who left to take the head coaching job at Canon-McMillan High School. Kellar also said he will have five full-time coaches and some interns on the coaching staff.