Foster City Resident Gets Athletic Scholarship to San Jose State

To look at Foster City's Nate Velichko, you wouldn't guess the King's Academy senior is just 17. After all, he stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 275 pounds.

Come August, Velichko will be playing alongside athletes his size. He'll be 18 by then, but he's still growing. It's likely he could gain 25-30 more pounds without losing any agility.

It's one of the many reasons San Jose State football coach Ron Caragher made him an offer he did not refuse.

Velichko officially signed his National Letter of Intent to enroll at San Jose State and play football there.

"Our recruiting philosophy, first of all, is we want men of high character," Caragher said. "That quality is essential in building a foundation of success. I also believe it is important to find plasyers that have the potential for continued physical development."

Velichko, who was named to Cal Hi Sports' first team all-state small schools, fits the bill on both accounts.

He's also versatile, signing with the possibility of playing on either the defensive or offensive line.

"Nate is an outstanding lineman prospect for us," Caragher said. "For a big guy he's very athletic. He loves football and plays in a physical and aggressive manner. We're looking forward to his continued development."

Velichko led the Knights with 85 tackles and was credited with three fumble recoveries. He was the team MVP, a first team All-Central Coast Section pick and the PAL Ocean Division Offensive Lineman of the Year.

He's interested in majoring in kinesiology, with an emphasis on athletic training. He's also been involved as a performing arts audio-visual technican and will serve in that capacity in The King's Academy spring production.

San Jose State finished this past season ranked No. 21 in the nation, winning 11 of 13 games, including the Military Bowl.