Tower of Power: Awambu a Coyote

(PALM SPRINGS) — Sometimes, it pays to listen to your players.

On the advice of several former New Mexico Highlands players who have already joined the desert champions, the SoCal Coyotes today added the superior talent of 6-7, 300-pound left tackle Chris Awambu, who played in the D-II 2012 Senior Bowl.

“This is an opportunity I can’t pass up,” Awambu said today from Hayward, Ca., as he inked his SoCal contract and packed his bags for Palm Springs. “I’m excited to be a Coyote. I plan to work hard to live up to the high expectations of this organization. This season’s goal is to bring home a championship, and anything less is unacceptable.”

For the coaching staff, the decision wasn’t hard. After successfully recruiting former Preseason All-American defensive end Devin Howard from Highlands, the team couldn’t help but notice who battled him every day in practice: The gifted Awambu.

“The report on Chris is that he’s a mistake-free player, and very athletic,” says Coyotes head coach J. David Miller. “He’s athletic, gets into his position quickly, stays low and maintains great leverage. On film, he changes directions smoothly, and slides well laterally. We like his control, balance, and the fact that unlike most big men, he doesn’t over-extend his arms.”

Awambu also displays good blitz awareness, and is agile enough to play right or left tackle, though the Coyotes most certainly will use him to protect the blind-side of 2012 National Player of the Year Nate Lewis, the triggerman of the team’s lethal Run ‘n’ Shoot attack.

“The only thing worse than having to block Devin Howard,” said Coyote head coach J. David Miller, “must be having to do it every day. There is no question those two made each other better. We’re looking forward to seeing that battle resume in camp.”

The Coyotes open at home August 24 against the San Diego Spartans at 7 p.m. in their first game as a member of the UFAL Eastern Division of the Southern California Football Alliance (SCFA).

The SCFA is the only means for a desert team to win a state or national championship.

For more information on the SoCal Coyotes, its ground-breaking HOWL Program, or season tickets, email [email protected], or call 760.537.7798, or visit www.thesocalcoyotes.com.