Teeg and Cian Slone now play for a Division I football program
Cian and Teeg Slone are brothers who played football at American River College. Now they’re playing together again, this time in the state of Utah.
Cian Slone, age 20, started playing soccer at age 8 and his younger brother Teeg Slone, age 19, joined him a year later in Rocklin, California.
The Slone brothers agree that their time at ARC helped them prepare to play in the state of Utah.
The older brother praised ARC’s coaching staff and credits them for their success, particularly the support they offered the players. He also commented on how all players at ARC have each other’s backs.
“The entire coaching staff at ARC did a really good job of building values into our program that could hold us accountable on and off the field,” said Cian Slone.
Cian Slone said he believes it’s important to learn this at the community college level: Once you arrive at a university, there are expectations of how you behave on and off the field.
Teeg Slone says the positional coaches, head coach Jonathan Osterhout and defense coordinator Louis Baiz, have helped him a lot during his time at ARC.
“They were easy to talk to when you needed help and they helped build us, believed in us and prepared us for every game,” said Teeg Slone.
Louis Baiz, assistant professor of kinesiology and assistant football coach/defensive coordinator, said it’s rewarding to see players he’s coached, like the Slone brothers, reach the next level.
“Well, our entire program philosophy is based around player development,” Baiz said. “How we lift all these things, meet and travel would be similar to what a four-year school would do.”
Not only Teeg and Cian Slone owe their success to the coaches, but also to the professors at ARC.
“The teachers at American River were great,” said Cian Slone. “They answered their emails and really interacted with their students and kind of made learning a little bit more fun.”
Cian Slone expressed the excitement he felt when he heard his brother would play football with him at ARC and they could play together for a season.
The Slone brothers both played on the defensive side of the ball at ARC with Cian Slone on defensive end and Teeg Slone on safety.
When it came to choosing a school, the state of Utah had a mutual interest in both brothers.
“When we were given the opportunity after the season to decide where we wanted to go,” said Cian Slone. “Utah State offered us both a little deal and it was a no-brainer.”
The Slone brothers shared that it’s important to them to continue playing college football together.
“It was my goal to take him to the next level as well, so it means a lot to me,” Teeg Slone said. “I’m looking forward to it and can hardly wait for the season.”
Cian and Teeg Slone said adapting to Division I college football wasn’t all that hard, but one thing that took some getting used to was the altitude.
“It made me feel out of breath quicker, but after about a week I was back to normal,” Teeg Slone said. “Our coach did a good job of getting us used to it, so we adapted quickly.”
The older brother’s biggest piece of advice to student athletes hoping to get noticed by a university is to stay patient.
“At the community college level, particularly in California, there are a number of teams,” Cian Slone said. “So there’s a lot of coaches that go into the schools looking for guys.”
According to Cian Slone, his first year on the football team included time on special teams, which left him discouraged, but with the support of the coaching staff, he found success on the field in his sophomore year.
“Always stay hungry and aim to be the best version of yourself,” he said. “That should lead you to success [community] college level.”
According to Teeg Slone, for community college athletes to get a scholarship or be recognized by a Division I school, it takes hard work and trust in your coaching staff.
Cian and Teeg Slone both praised Utah State’s coaches and how they hold players accountable.
The brothers said that when their teammates arrived at Utah State, they were very welcoming and they appreciate how committed their teammates are by getting together for drills after practice.
Baiz said he believes the Utah state brothers will get a lot of attention as they attend a competitive conference.
“They both play extremely hard, they play with a lot of energy and great commitment,” said Baiz. “They have the measurable values on their positions, meaning the height and weight and skills on their positions to deserve an opportunity to play at that level.”
The Slone brothers both said they want the team to improve on last year and be the best in their conference.
“The longer we play together, the better,” said Cian Slone.