Trabuco Hills High’s All-CIF brother duo of Brenden and Colin Schooler, who helped the Mustangs capture the CIF-Southern Section Southwest Division title last fall, have enrolled at Mission Viejo, Diablos coach Bob Johnson confirmed Aug. 6.
Brenden Schooler (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) is a senior wide receiver/safety who earned first-team All-Sea View League and All-CIF honors last season on defense. He led Trabuco Hills with six interceptions and also had 25 receptions for 478 yards.
Colin Schooler (6-0, 210) is a junior athlete/linebacker who shared the league’s defensive MVP award last season as a sophomore with San Clemente senior linebacker Riley Whimpey.
He led the Mustangs with 7.5 sacks and 83 tackles. He also was selected All-CIF on defense at linebacker.
Trabuco Hills first-year coach, Joe Silvey, commented on the transfer Aug. 7.
“I’m very disappointed that two players that were MVP-type players for us last season somehow determined this wasn’t a place they would be successful,” Silvey said. “I’m a bit puzzled by it.”
Silvey said there was no indication to him the Schoolers were going to leave the program, but he also said their history of movement should have been its own indication.
“I’m also a bit puzzled how CIF would allow these players to transfer to their fourth school in four years,” Silvey said.
Mission Viejo is the fourth school in four years for Brenden and third in three years for Colin.
“There’s a lot about it that doesn’t make sense to me,” Silvey said.
Brenden Schooler was at Tesoro as a freshman, Dana Hills as a sophomore, Trabuco Hills as a junior, now Mission Viejo as a senior. Colin Schooler was at Dana Hills as freshman, Trabuco Hills as sophomore, and now Mission Viejo as a junior.
UNDECIDED AT QUARTERBACK
Silvey has a decision to make at quarterback.
Senior Cooper Uhl and junior Luukas Harlin are fighting for the spot. Harlin is taller at 6-foot-3 to Uhl’s 5-foot-9 and more of a dropback quarterback.
Uhl is an athletic, dual-threat player who runs well.
“We like what we see from both,” Silvey said. “We didn’t have (quarterback) settled a year ago and that turned out OK.”
Harlin has varsity experience. He completed 6 of 7 passes for 67 yards and one touchdown in four appearances last season. Uhl has not played in a varsity game.
Jimmy Jacobs was the Mustangs’ starter last season. The senior threw for 2,333 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2014.
DEFENSE IN FLUX
The Mustangs are still trying to figure out how their defense will look for the season opener.
They lost a couple of key players, Kevin McKinney and Blake Cuzzupoli, to graduation, and now they’re looking for ways to replace the Schoolers.
Stepping up as a returner is senior defensive tackle Austin Fine.
Last season, Fine was second on the team in tackles for loss with eight and fourth with five sacks.
Sophomore cornerback and wide receiver Colby Rooker has made an impact. Silvey said Rooker has a good chance at starting after an “outstanding” spring and summer.
“He got some attention,” Silvey said. “Especially for a younger guy, he doesn’t back down at all.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
