Armentrout and Griffin headline football signing class

SAN MARCOS, CA (3/12/2020) – six Comet football players have committed to play at the next level.  

Johnny Armentrout has signed with the New Mexico State University. The standout receiver from El Camino High School, had a total of 1022 receiving yards as a Comet, 785 of which were from this past season. Armentrout found his way into the record book multiple times this past season, including a long reception of 72 yards and 183 receiving yards against Fullerton College. This past season, Armentrout had 785 yards and 10 touchdowns with an average of 78.5 yards per game. Armentrout received a Second-Team All-Central League honor this season.

Freshman wide receiver Kyran Griffin has committed early to Troy University in Mobile, Alabama. In his first season for Palomar, Griffin had 754 yards with an average of 75.4 per game. He recorded seven touchdowns. He had three games where he had 100 plus yards: 119 against Moorpark College, 115 against Ventura College and 116 against San Diego Mesa College. Griffin received a Second-Team All-Central League honor this season. He hails from New Orleans Louisiana, and will play one more season for Palomar.

Damon Wigand has committed to Benedictine College in Kansas as a running back. On 77 carries in his career, he had 240 yards with an average of 12.6 a game. He had a season-high 41 yards on 10 carries against Grossmont College. Wigand was also racked up a season-high 74 receiving yards against Ventura College with a long of 41. Wigand is a Mission Hills High School product.

Offensive lineman Anthony Escalante has signed with Waldorf University. Escalante was essential at the center position for the last two seasons for the Comets.

On the defensive side, defensive back Jay Craft signed with Lindenwood University in December 2019. As a Comet, Craft racked up 57 total tackles. Craft had two interceptions this past season, one a 78-yard touchdown return against Southwestern College and one against Grossmont College. He recorded one sack for a loss of four yards and three tackles-for-loss totaling 21 yards.

Comet Orion Diaz has also signed with Benedictine College in Kansas this past December. Diaz played for Palomar 2017-19. As a defensive back, he totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions for 14 yards. He had 2.5 tackles-for-loss totaling six yards.

Armentrout and Griffin join the elite group of wide receivers who have moved on to the next level. Since 2016, four have committed to FBS schools, two to FCS schools, two to NCAA Division II schools and two to NAIA schools.

New Mexico State University is an NCAA Division I school and competes in the Western Athletic Conference. The Aggies were 2-10 last season. Troy University is an NCAA Division I school and competes in the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans were 5-7 last season. Benedictine College is an NAIA school and competes in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Ravens were 8-3 last season and finished at No. 18 in the final AFCA-NAIA Top 25 Poll. Waldorf University is an NAIA school and competes in the North Star Athletic Association. They finished 7-3 last season.

Congrats to these Comets!