Davis, Ropati, Vaaulu sign letters of intent to continue at four-year colleges

Three members of the 2013 Long Beach City College football team have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year institutions. David Davis (Palos Verdes HS) has signed with the University of California, Berkeley, Patrick Ropati (Jordan HS) will attend West Texas A&M University, and Agaufa "AA" Va'aulu (Warren HS) will continue at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

The group signed their letters of intent on Wednesday as part of the first day of the NCAA midyear transfer signing period.

"I'm very proud of these three young men that they are able to transfer midyear," said first-year LBCC head coach Brett Peabody. "Our main goal for this program is to send guys on to the next level. This is just the tip of the iceberg as we should have many more heading out during the February signing period."

Davis, a bounce back from Washington State University, will make his return to the PAC-12 with the Cal Bears. Davis was a second-team SCFA All-Central Conference selection at the defensive tackle position. For the season, he posted 27 tackles with two sacks.

Ropati continues the pipeline from LBCC to West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. From the defensive line, Ropati totaled 21 tackles with two sacks for the Vikings in 2013. Former Vikings now in the NFL, Bryan Braman and Stephen Burton, both transferred to West Texas A&M out of Long Beach.

Va'aulu will join Ropati in the Lone Star State as he will take his talents to Texas A&M-Kingsville. Va'aulu earned second-team SCFA All-Central Conference honors at defensive end for LBCC this past season. He was fifth on the Vikings' defense with 47 tackles and led LBCC with three sacks. Va'aulu redshirted at New Mexico State University in 2012 before returning to Southern California to play for LBCC in 2013.

Both West Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Kingsville compete at the NCAA Division II level and are members of the Lone Star Conference.

The NCAA football regular signing period begins on February 5.