If everything goes as planned, Central Valley High School grad David Serrano will play football for a four-year college this fall.

“I have to take care of business at Modesto Junior College,” said Serrano, a 6-foot-4 310-pound offensive lineman. “I’m on track at getting everything done by this summer. Everything is online (due to the coronavirus pandemic). It’s a lot more challenging than expected. Some of the professors don’t engage with us as much as they did in person.”

Serrano has yet to decide what college he’ll transfer to.

“I don’t know where I’m going,” he said. “I do have a couple of options. I plan on majoring in kinesiology. I will be the first person from my family to earn a degree from a four-year university.”

Lake Erie, an NCAA Division-II school, has expressed interest in adding Serrano to its roster.

“They’re always contacting and checking in on me,” he said. 

Former Modesto Junior College teammate Paul Sogialofa signed with Missouri State in February of 2020. Sogialofa is a 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive lineman for the Bears, who will begin an eight-game Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule at North Dakota on Feb. 20.

 “They haven’t reached out to me,” Serrano said. “But my friend (Sogialofa) told me they liked my tape. It’s a good feeling. It’s Division I. It’s big-time.”

Serrano is also considering following in the footsteps of former Central Valley teammate Estevan Barragan and joining Fresno State’s football team as a walk-on player.

“Playing at a four-year school has been a dream of mine since high school,” Serrano said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Serrano has stayed in shape during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to training five times a week.

“I (currently) work out at Muscle Mechanics Center in Ceres,” he said.

Serrano was a two-year starter at Modesto Junior College.

“I was very versatile,” he said.

Serrano logged playing time at center and right guard as a sophomore.

The Pirates posted a 9-3 overall record and advanced to the NorCal title game in 2019.

Modesto Junior College won its first four games.

Serrano started at center as the Pirates stormed back for a 33-20 victory over the reigning national champion Laney College Eagles. 

The game was featured in episode one of the fifth and final season of the Netflix series Last Chance U, which chronicled Laney College’s football program in the fall of 2019.

“It’s a rare experience not a lot of people get to have,” Serrano said. “It’s the top memory I’ve had in football.”

Serrano contributed at right guard freshman year.

Modesto Junior College finished 8-3 and defeated San Francisco City College 28-20 in the Golden State Bowl Game.

“I’m a totally different person on the field,” Serrano said. “I’m mean. I like to talk with my football pads.”

A three-year starter at Central Valley, Serrano was voted Western Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman during his final season with the Hawks.

Central Valley totaled 1,555 yards and 16 touchdowns in five league games.

The Hawks piled up 920 yards and 13 TDs on the ground.

Serrano was also selected to the WAC First Team on defense.

He tallied 28 tackles and one sack.

Serrano filled a major role as Central Valley amassed a 21-11 overall record, won one conference title and qualified for the playoffs twice from 2015-17.

“Football is everything to me,” he said.