Posted: Aug 16, 2016

Whiteside, Fink, and Beltran Are Final Three to Sign for Citrus

Marcus Whiteside, Dillon Fink, and Christian Beltran have all accepted scholarship offers to keep playing and attending school in 2016.

Glendora, CA – Citrus College sophomores Marcus Whiteside, Dillon Fink, and Christian Beltran are the final three Citrus College Football players from the 2015 team to accept scholarship offers. All three signed in the last month and are attending their new four-year institutions to participate in the upcoming 2016 season.

Whiteside saw limited action for the Owls, but stepped up when needed catching a four-yard touchdown pass in Citrus' season finale last year against then State #4 and SoCal #2 Riverside City College. Whiteside has signed on with NAIA Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri.

"Central Methodist gave my family and myself the best financial opportunity to keep playing football and going to school. The coaching staff reiterated that they build their program with high character guys, and it felt like I would be a good fit in a program like that," Whiteside said. "Being here at Citrus has helped me mature as a player and a person. It's give me an opportunity understand that things happen along your journey, but if you work hard you can fight through adversity and get to where you are trying to go."

Fink was a significant two-year contributor for Citrus at linebacker, totaling 79 career tackles, including 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss as a sophomore. Fink also forced a pair of fumbles, recovered a fumble, knocked down five passes, and had one career interception. Fink will attend and participate for Lenoir Rhyne University an NCAA DII institution located in Hickory, North Carolina.

"I felt at home there at Lenoir Rhyne. They have really good football, and they are one of the better Division II's in the country. They've played in the National Championship game, and the coaches are excellent and welcoming," Fink said. "Citrus helped mature me more these last two seasons. It's helped me learn not to take anything for granted, and it's made me a better player."

Beltran was the last of the three individuals to sign, as he inked with NCAA Division I Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. The 6'4 tight end out of Ontario caught 31 career passes for a total of 388 yards and three touch downs for the Owls over the last two years.

"I chose Prairie View A&M because they offered me a scholarship and a chance to compete. It just felt like it was the right decision for me know that I would face an uphill battle when I got here," Beltran said. "Citrus has helped me mature as both a student and a player. I want to thank the coaching staff and especially [Head Football] Coach [Ron] Ponciano for helping me in any way he could. He helped me overcome a number of obstacles that I faced, and I will forever be grateful for that."

"We are proud of these three individuals, of both the hard work they have put in these last few seasons and of the patience they showed throughout this potentially stressful process," said Citrus College Head Football Coach Ron Ponciano. "Their patience paid off, and they are all three off to quality programs, where they will have the most success possible."