Arnell signs with Univ. of North Dakota

SBCC safety Zach Arnell has signed to play football for the University of North Dakota and will leave in early January to enroll in school and attend spring practice in Grand Forks, N.D.

The 6-2 sophomore from San Diego missed four games this year due to injury. He had 34 tackles and two interceptions in seven games, including a 35-yard return for a touchdown in Week 6 at L.A. Valley. He was a first-team All-American Pacific League selection in his freshman year in 2013 with 67 tackles and three interceptions.

The Vaqueros went 7-4 and played in a bowl game (the Golden State Bowl) for the first time in 17 years. SBCC had its best two-year run in 22 years, going 14-7 during Arnell's two seasons.

"He has been at SBCC for three years (redshirted his first year) and he persevered through that, which is tough for some to do," said SBCC coch Craig Moropoulos. "I am very proud of Zach because of that and he is a tremendous competitor. Except for the frustration of missing a few games this season, he had an outstanding career at SBCC."

North Dakota competes in the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA Div. I-A's Football Championship Subdivision. The Big Sky has 13 schools in football, including Eastern Washington, Montana and Cal Poly. From 1978 to 2008, UND was a Div. 2 program, winning the national championship in 2001. They went 5-7 this season.

"We feel Zach has good range for a safety. We wanted to add some length to the position and at 6-foot-2, he does that," said UND coach Bubba Schweigert on the school's athletic website. "He possesses the skills to fill the alley, defend the run and has good cover skills. Zach really fits all the characteristics that we look for in a safety. He will be with us during spring and that will be invaluable for him to learn our system."