Nova Kebeli made a college commitment this week. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Former Portola High School star running back Nova Kebeli, the offensive MVP of the Pacific Hills League team in 2021, made a commitment Wednesday to play college football for Sacramento State University.
Kebeli was a key member of the Portola program and in 2019, was also named the offensive MVP helping the Bulldogs capture the Pacific Coast League title, the first in school history.
“I am very excited about being part of Sacramento Hornets football team this season as a running back,” Kebeli told OC Sports Zone Wednesday. “Playing football at the collegiate level has been a childhood dream for me.
“I always had four goals for my self-motivation: train every day, work harder, play with passion and never give up. All the hard work along with playing for Portola High School while winning the championship (league title in 2019) and being OC’s leading rusher (in 2021) finally paid off.”
Kebeli said he was excited about attending Sacramento State, adding he will probably get redshirted this season.
“Proud to be at a top level Division 1 school and the great academics they offer,” he said. “Now it is time for me to put my foot on the gas and work even harder to prove my worthiness to the team. My goal is to build upon all the good things that I learned being a Bulldog and become a significant contributor for the Hornets.
“I would also like to thank Coach (Peter) Abe at Portola and my other coaches for helping me to be ready for the next level and Coach (Malcolm) Agnew (Sacramento State) for recognizing and recruiting me.”
Agnew is the running backs coach at Sacramento State.
Kebeli had many big games for Portola. In the first game of 2021, he had a school record 258 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns in the Bulldogs victory over Woodbridge. He also had a school record 97-yard TD run in that game.
His coach at Portola, Abe, congratulated Kebeli after the running back made his announcement on Twitter Wednesday and said “the program couldn’t be more proud.”
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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