Football Players Sign Letters of Intent
On February 2, three of BHS’ most promising senior football players signed their letter of intent to play college football next fall.
A key cog on the varsity team, Rashad Albert, manned multiple positions this last season, playing wherever he was needed. He will be playing defensive back next fall at Sacramento State University. Described as “the X factor” of the team by head coach Fred Simms, Albert has always been a force to be reckoned with. Although Albert is looking forward to moving on to college, he will miss the many memories of the BHS team and his former teammates. But he advises the remaining players to, “Push yourself. [And] don’t settle for less.”
At the signing, Albert said he is looking forward to “expanding his resources” at Sacramento, where he will play as a defensive back for the Hornets, as well as study business and entrepreneurship. On and off the football field, Albert is a role model. Maintaining a grade point average of 3.3, Albert is ready to set a precedent for his younger siblings and extended family.
Another veteran to the Berkeley football community is Jacai Deneveu. Introduced as “the leader of the defense” by Simms, Deneveu has been playing football since he was kid. Inspired and motivated by his father, Deneveu is ready to head north to Humboldt State University and play for the Jacks. Deneveu’s motto since 6th grade has been “School comes first, sports come last.” Deneveu’s father, Tim Deneveu, echoes his son, saying, “Let academics motivate you … Football doesn’t last forever, but an education."
Deneveu is looking forward to starting college in Humboldt, where he will study engineering and play football as an outside linebacker. Having earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5, Deneveu is the true definition of a student athlete.
Lastly, a new member to the BHS football team, Jalen Rosales will be going to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he will be playing tight end and linebacker for the Black Knights and studying kinesiology. Rosales was one of the first players that Coach Simms met upon arriving at BHS. After seeing him play, Simms says Rosales is “someone you wish you could clone.”
During the event, anxiousness was evident and after Rosales announced his choice he remarked, “I am just so happy.” Though he was highly sought after by multiple universities, Rosales settled on West Point because he “was thinking about [his] future” and knew that he would be receiving the best education.
The overall morale and support in the room was a great reminder of how important athletics are to Berkeley High and how they, as Tim Deneveu says, can “create productive human beings in the world.”
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