Tustin football previews big upcoming season with Azusa Clash in the Canyons title

Contributor
Lance Smith
Tustin football previews big upcoming season with Azusa Clash in the Canyons title image

© Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn

Tustin football has been a revelation the past two falls.

This fall, however, will be one of expected dominance.

Last week's title at Azusa's Clash in the Canyons 7-on-7 tournament was a reminder that despite graduating one of the best senior classes in program history, the Tillers are set to rise even more.

After more or less cruising to the playoffs, they beat Bishop Montgomery in the semifinals and Bishop Amat in the title match to remember the taste of victory before August even rolled around.

They emerged as the top passing league team out of a large field that also included Azusa, Chino Hills, Garfield, Bell Gardens, Anaheim, Gabrielino, Ganesha, Arroyo, Granite Hills, Claremont, Marquez, Maywood, Mark Keppel, San Gorgonio, Bell, and Los Osos.

Tustin was led in large part by QB Ayden Edwards and WR Jeremiah Salvant.

Edwards is one of the most highly-touted signal callers in the Class of 2028, already possessing 16 Division I offers including Oregon, Arizona State, Colorado, Nebraska, SMU, Washington, and Ole Miss. He threw for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns in six games last season, and is poised to take a massive leap as a sophomore.

Salvant, a junior transfer from Chino Hills, broke out to the tune of 15 touchdowns through the tournament. As a sophomore, he had 10 catches for 140 yards and one touchdown, and those numbers will rise exponentially in 2025.

After a 3-8 campaign in 2022, Tustin broke through to go 10-1 in 2023 and 9-2 in 2024, sweeping its league and making the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs both years. Among the Tillers' top departed seniors are 1,800-yard rusher Eimesse Essis, leading receiver Montrevian Cushionberry, and leading tackler Jayden Perez, a linebacker. But there's just so much blue chip talent ready for bigger roles, such as junior wide receiver Rufai Azeez, and some new faces like Salvant.

Tustin's front seven might be its biggest strength this fall, and keep in mind that the line of scrimmage wasn't even a factor in the team's Clash in the Canyons title. Opposing offenses are likely to tremble going up against a defensive front that includes 4-star DL and sacks/tackles for loss leader Jeremiah Williams, 4-star LB Taven Epps (Texas), 4-star DL Jon Ioane, DL Ricky Ioane, and 3-star LB Tim Ioane. And if you throw it deep, 4-star safety Khalil Terry, who led the team with four interceptions last year, is ready to pounce.

The Tillers will play a grueling non-conference schedule before entering Delta League play as the favorite to repeat.

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