Jackson Renger, the star outside linebacker on Los Alamitos’ Southern Section Division 2 championship football team last season, packed his bags and boarded a flight on Aug. 14 to begin life as an Ivy Leaguer at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
Armed with a 4.4 grade-point average and memories of winning a championship with his best friends, Renger is entering the world of college football while competing in an academic environment featuring the best of the best.
“I’ve been told football might be the easiest part,” he said. “I’m coming in to be surprised.”
The Ivy League continues to recruit players from Southern California. Former St. John Bosco quarterback Caleb Sanchez is entering his junior year at Columbia, which has 10 Southland products on its roster. St. John Bosco defensive back Dorian Franklin is committed to Harvard.
Aiding Renger are eight other players from Southern California on the Cornell roster.
“They said it will be fine and help me,” he said of the transition.
Renger visited Cornell three times last year but has done little preparation this year for what he will be facing in his balancing act of football and academics. He’s going to trust his skills and previous experiences.
“My biggest concern is the academics,” he said. “Throw on top of that football, that’s going to be a real challenge. They said you have to be on top of your stuff and can’t let either get on top of you.”
When Renger left home last month, he packed what he could, flying to New Jersey to visit family, then drove to New York with his parents before moving in on a Sunday. He had hernia surgery in July and spent six weeks recovering and still believes he should be able to contribute on the field as a freshman.
One thing he didn’t bring to Cornell was a warm jacket for snow. He didn’t trust the stores in Orange County.
“That’s what I’m thinking,” he said. “They’re going to sell me something useless.”
So he’ll trust the stores in New York or maybe receive recommendations from teammates once the snow comes.
He’s going off to college to explore and test himself on and off the field. That’s what Ivy Leaguers do.
“Cornell is such a unique and big school,” he said. “I’m not sure what I want to do. I want to try different things when I’m there.”
Football has taught him the most important lesson for anyone who plays sports — never quit.
“This is a whole new challenge. I’ll put my head down and try,” he said.
Friends are welcome to send mittens, ski caps and hot soup when the snow comes. Football begins on Sept. 19. The Southern California natives are sure to shake hands after games and discuss happenings back home while never forgetting that “Winter is Coming.”
The breath of a dragon won’t save them but a warm coat will.
A look at players from local schools on Ivy League rosters:
Harvard: DB Chase Mason, San Juan Hills; DB Iroc Cordova, Inglewood; K Dylan Fingersh, Capistrano Valley; OL Nate Turk, Loyola; DL Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon.
Brown: DL Caden Harman, Sierra Canyon; DL Mitch Mooney, San Marino.
Yale: DB Dillon Rickenbacker, St. John Bosco; WR Davis Wong, Brentwood.
Pennsylvania: LB Trevor Pajak, Mater Dei; WR Tyler George, Corona Centennial.
Columbia: WR Caden Butler, Chaparral; WR Bryce Coleman, Crean Lutheran; WR Elliot Cooper, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame; DB Ethan Fullerton, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame; QB Caleb Sanchez, St. John Bosco; DL Austin Coronado, Glendora; WR Jarod Sersansie, JSerra; DL Will Matthew, Orange Vista; TE Santiago Hernandez, Harvard-Westlake.
Cornell: WR Cameron Shannon, JW North; DL Darryl Davis, Culver City; TE Brandon Gilbert, Murrieta Valley; TE Adrian Ortiz, Redondo Union; LB Jackson Renger, Los Alamitos; K AJ Salo, Chaminade.
Dartmouth: OL Ryan Turk, Loyola; LB Timothy Ioane Jr., Tustin.
Princeton: LB Fifita Tauteoli-Moore, Corona Centennial; QB Wyatt Becker, Sierra Canyon; RB Kai Honda, Gardena Serra.