Bryson Kennedy, Oak Park High’s much-anticipated addition at quarterback, has been cleared to compete by the CIF-Southern Section, according to head coach Casey Webb.
The 6-foot-3 sophomore from Little Rock, Arkansas, who has received recruiting interest from some of the biggest college football programs in the country, missed last Friday’s season opening 63-12 win over Angelou Community.
The status of Kennedy and his brother Bradlee Miller was updated to “Valid Change of Residence” on the CIF-SS transfer website Tuesday.
“We’re going to showcase his talents,” Webb said. “He’s going to be fun to watch.”
Junior Taisei Reynolds started the Week Zero home win, completing all four pass attempts for 83 yards and two TDs.
Webb would not say who would start
this Friday’s game at 0-1 Fillmore.
“I’m going to have to have that conversation with the two quarterbacks on Thursday,” Webb said.
Kennedy, who has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Missouri and others, moved to Southern California after his transfer to Texas powerhouse Duncanville was denied in May.
He starred at Little Rock-Central High as a freshman.
“The world is on his shoulders right now,” Webb said. “This has been a good spot for him to take a step back and breathe.”
Miller is an outside linebacker who will also play some running back and H-back, according to Webb.
Oak Park is still waiting to hear on the status of its other notable transfer, former St. Bernard quarterback Gary Ferguson, a Sacramento State commit expected to play receiver this season.
“Not yet,” Webb said. “I keep checking.”
Still waiting
Ferguson is not the only local transfer still waiting to hear on his status.
Pacifica cornerback Tadd Mitchell, a transfer from Carlsbad High, missed the Tritons’ season-opening win over Del Sol Saturday.
His status is listed as “incomplete” on the CIF-SS transfer site.
Pacifica coach Mike Moon said Mitchell’s paperwork was submitted June 26.
Pacifica (1-0) hosts San Diego-Lincoln on Friday in a showdown of teams ranked No. 15 and No. 24 in CalHiSports.com’s preseason state rankings.
Several other local programs were boosted by new transfers who were eligible in Week Zero.
Junior running back Nazil Esanbor, a transfer from Mater Dei, ran for 67 yards on 10 carries in Westlake’s triple-overtime win at Newbury Park.
Junior Kris Carranza, a transfer from Sierra Canyon, started at quarterback for Agoura and completed 12 of 25 passes for 206 yards, two TDs and an interception in a 32-22 win over Saugus.
Who will be the one?
At least officially, Royal High football is still without a head coach.
Head coach Adam Brubaker was fired on Aug. 21, hours before the Highlanders’ season-opening, 62-0 home win over Monroe.
Assistant coach Cody MacArthur, who served as acting head coach, declined to speak to The Star about the game over the weekend.
Quarterback Preston Murray told The Star that assistant coach Sean Bridgewater took over play-calling duties from Brubaker.
“We were so nervous going into the season, but we’re adjusting really fast,” Murray said.
In a letter to parents on Aug. 21, principal Reina Zapata promised an interim coach “will be named shortly.”
The interim coach has yet to named.
“Nothing officially said,” said athletic director Reid Furlong.
Royal visits Carpinteria on Friday night.
Joe Curley is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Arkansas transfer QB cleared at Oak Park | prep football notebook
