We recently compiled a list of players from the Los Angeles Rams who are graduates of California high schools. The Rams are still the only undefeated team in the NFL and are a definite threat to win the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship. The first, of course, came when the Rams were in St. Louis. It’s only fair this week to do the same for L.A.’s other NFL team, the Chargers, who are a playoff-contending team in their own right from the American Football Conference.
There are a lot of California sports fans who are making bets on the Chargers, Rams and the other NFL teams in the state. The gambling market in the U.S. is changing, however, due to a recent US Supreme Court decision. One way to make sense it all is Betting Top 10, which offers state-by-state guides on the laws for all 50 states to make it simple for you to find out what your local laws are.
The Chargers are coming off of their bye week on Sunday to play at Seattle and will be looking to win their fifth straight game. According to this week’s NFL standings, they started 1-2, but those losses were to the Rams and to the NFL’s other hottest team this season, the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s also interesting to note that the Chargers haven’t had a home game at Carson’s StubHub Center since October 7 and won’t have one again until Nov. 18. Part of the reason for that is that the team went to England for its most recent game on Oct. 14 when it defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-19.
Two weeks ago, the Chargers and their organization suffered a loss with the death of longtime owner Alex G. Spanos. He was 95 years old and had been in declining health for several years. Spanos and his family are from Stockton and at the funeral last week dignitaries included NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former California governor Pete Wilson. Spanos and his family have been very generous to many charities and high school-related events over the years in California, especially in his hometown and in San Diego, where the Chargers called home until just two seasons ago.
Here is the list of seven L.A. Chargers playing in the same state in which they grew up:
DB Michael Davis (Glendale)
He was also a sprinter in high school with top times of 10.67 in the 100 meters and 21.4 in the 200. Davis, who went to college at BYU, was moved up from the practice squad early last season.
LB Nick Dzubnar (Mission Viejo)
At Mission Viejo, Nick was a do-everything type of kid who also wrestled and was senior class president. He wasn’t a big-time recruit like some other Mission Viejo players but went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He wasn’t drafted by an NFL team, either. Instead, he was an undrafted free agent in 2015, kept his dream alive and worked to become a standout on special teams.
TE Virgil Green (Tulare)
In the Chargers’ recent win over the Oakland Raiders, Green caught a touchdown pass. He previously played for the Denver Broncos and went to college at Nevada.
NT Brandon Mebane (Crenshaw, Los Angeles)
He is a 12-year veteran of the NFL who was with the famed Seattle Seahawks’ Legend of Doom defense until signing with the Chargers at the start of last season upon their move to his hometown. Mebane had six tackles and forced fumble in the team’s last game vs. the Titans. He was MVP for one of his college years at Cal and was a highly regarded player at Crenshaw. Mebane got a ring as a member of Seattle’s team that won Super Bowl XLVIII.
LB Uchenna Nwosu (Narbonne, Harbor City)
Narbonne isn’t far from where the Chargers play their home games, either. It was there in 2013 during Nwosu’s senior year when his was in on 121 tackles. One of his teammates on that team was current Denver Broncos’ LB Keishawn Bierria. Nwosu then went to USC and is now a rookie for the Chargers.
LB Hayes Pullard (Crenshaw, Los Angeles)
Pullard’s last high school game at Crenshaw was on the same field he now plays for his NFL team. That was in 2009 and was the year that the Cougars went to the CIF Open Division state championship and fell to De La Salle of Concord 28-14. Pullard was on the same team as current Kansas City Chiefs speedster DeAnthony Thomas. Pullard then went to USC and has been in the NFL for four seasons. He had his career best with 79 tackles last season.
OL Scott Quessenberry (La Costa Canyon, Carlsbad)
We got to talk to Scott for a minute or two at the 2017 Pac-12 Media Day. He was representing UCLA and was one of the top linemen in the conference. He is now a rookie back-up lineman for the Chargers.
