{"id":2756,"date":"2026-05-08T17:03:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=2756"},"modified":"2026-05-08T17:03:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:03:22","slug":"capistrano-valley-christians-benjamin-makelela-ready-for-next-step-in-football-journey-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=2756","title":{"rendered":"Capistrano Valley Christian\u2019s Benjamin Makelela ready for next step in football journey"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.\u00a0Subscribe now<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more All-County boys wrestling: Max Murillo is the OC wrestler of the year<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the most unique recruiting stories in Orange County football will continue to unfold at Capistrano Valley Christian on Monday.<\/p>\n

With high school graduation approaching, the school in San Juan Capistrano plans to honor three student-athletes committed to colleges. One of three will be senior Benjamin Makelela, a 6-foot-8, 275-pound offensive tackle who generated buzz by signing with Iowa State.<\/p>\n

Rivals.com dubbed Makelela as one of the biggest recruiting steals in the Class of 2026.<\/p>\n

Yes, tiny Capistrano Valley Christian produced a major, under-the-radar prospect in football.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was probably under-recruited,\u201d Capistrano Valley Christian football coach Brandon Camarillo said. \u201cIn the day and age of recruiting now, it\u2019s obviously tougher for kids to be seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Benji to be the size that he is, the power that he has and just be the overall person he is,\u201d the coach added, \u201cI think every school would be knocking down the door to get him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Makelela pushes forward with determination.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

He left his parents and four older siblings in his native Congo to attend Capistrano Valley Christian starting in November of 2022.<\/p>\n

Makelela, who lives with a host family, arrived in Orange County as an aspiring basketball prospect.<\/p>\n

He had never played football before but started as a sophomore to have fun with his friends.<\/p>\n

Read more Orange County baseball Top 25: Trabuco Hills enters the Top 10<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI was like, \u2018Why not? Let\u2019s do it,\u2019 \u201d he recalled. \u201cI got on the football field and didn\u2019t know anything. I started as a tight end.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Makelela stepped onto the field with plenty of athleticism. He also played soccer and boxed in Congo.<\/p>\n

He soon shifted to offensive and defensive line, and developed a passion for football.<\/p>\n

Makelela also played basketball at CVC and considered football his \u201csecond option\u201d for college. His plans, however, changed as a senior.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was enjoying (football) a lot,\u201d he said. \u201cGod put that dream in front of me. Put that opportunity in front of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Makelela initially committed to Washington State for football but signed with Iowa State to follow former Cougars coach Jimmy Rogers, who took the helm in December.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re going to develop him the right way,\u201d Camarillo said of Iowa State. \u201cYou see the footwork that he has from soccer as an offensive lineman \u2026 It\u2019s kind of a match made in heaven. I\u2019m glad he chose to stick with football.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Makelela\u2019s next goals is for his family, including his parents Angelique and Ghyslain, to watch him play college football.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust seeing (their) support, even from far away, really made me the man I am right now,\u201d he said, \u201cto do big things for my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more A year in, what\u2019s on Pope Leo XIV\u2019s to-do list? And what has he done so far?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Makelela signed with Iowa State for football in February after starting to play the sport as a sophomore in high school. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-facts","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nCapistrano Valley Christian\u2019s Benjamin Makelela ready for next step in football journey - Silicon Valley Moving Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=2756\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Capistrano Valley Christian\u2019s Benjamin Makelela ready for next step in football journey - 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