Freshman receiver Damien "Dame" Moun was a head-turner for Chabot College last season, leading the state with 73 receptions in the regular season and impressing with his dedication, toughness and explosive quickness.
"I don't think I've coached many guys as a tough as Moun," head coach Eric Fanene shared of the All-State and All-Bay-6 Conference receiver.
Not surprisingly, Moun (5-11, 178) has made friends in Division I places as well. On Jan. 8, the Modesto native announced that he has committed to Idaho State, tweeting "I want to thank God, my coaches and family forBlessed with this opportunity, time to work!!"
Moun, one of four Chabot mid-year transfers to Division I schools this year, says the Idaho State coaching staff "believed in me, so I decided to take it. I had a great time in my visit. They showed nice hospitality, and I feel like I'd be a great fit over there."
He added the spread offense will suit him because "they pass the ball a lot."
After going 1-10 last season, Idaho State hired accomplished UC Davis offensive coordinator Cody Hawkins as its new head coach. Hawkins guided the Aggies to the fourth-ranked offense in the nation last season.
Moun, also a dedicated student, has long had his sights set on playing Division I football. He played at Servite High-Anaheim and then enrolled in a prep school in Virginia, Fork Union Military Academy, hoping to get Division I offers. It wasn't to be, but he did learn some invaluable lessons.
"That military academy, it was tough," Moun recalled. "They had us up at 5 o'clock in the morning, horns, eating, practicing at 6 a.m. They had us on a real tight schedule, and I feel like that really disciplined me and helped me come into my own."
Previous to that experience, he had relocated from Modesto to Southern California to play at football power Servite because "they have good competition," Moun says. He would take long bus rides each school day from a relative's home in Torrance to Servite, a Catholic college prep school for boys, but ultimately he didn't meet his Division I objectives.
So he kept waiting his turn. It finally came at Chabot.
"Now I've been blessed with an opportunity and I'm so grateful and thankful," Moun said.
Chabot's other mid-year transfers to Division I schools so far are offensive tackle Esa Pole (Washington State), defensive lineman Robert Porter (Presbyterian) and linebacker Pete Haunga, who is expected to commit soon to University of San Diego.
Moreover, Chabot quarterback Kekoa Turangan is close to landing with West Liberty. Offensive lineman Antonio Lopez-Gomez is heading to Avila University, and offensive lineman Javon Green is weighing multiple mid-year offers.
Moun has had a positive experience at Chabot, where players come from a variety of hometowns, many of whom with aspirations to play at a higher level.
"I love my coaches. They always were there for me. They understood that I wanted to get extra work in, they would come and open up the weight room and let me stay after practice," Moun said of the Chabot staff. "Any time I had questions on film or anything, they were there. I love my teammates. My teammates were very good. They always push me, all the trash-talking and stuff, that competitive nature we all had, that's something that I love."
He quickly developed a strong bond with Turangan. They were throwing together everything weekend since January 2022.
"Man, I couldn't have done it with out 'Koa," Moun said.
Moun describes himself as a "student of the game. I watch a lot of film … I'm a good route-runner, I have good quickness, great hands, but there's still a lot I have to work on."
Because he's worked so hard and aimed so high, Moun has found his orbit in Division I.