Bears Add All-Conference East LA CC OT Martin Tine

The Bears filled a big need today with the commitment of 6-7/330 East LA City College offensive tackle Martin Tine‍ on his official visit this weekend to Cal.

The big OT earned 1^st team All-Conference honors for East LA in his sophomore season ahead of prior offeree Max Iheanachor, who earned 2^nd team honors last season. Tine can play either left or right tackle for the Bears in ‘23 and will likely get looks on both sides when he arrives this summer. Tine’s 35-inch arms, 83-inch wingspan and strength could be just what new OL coach Mike Bloesch is looking for to bolster his OL corps and push to start.

Tine’s frosh season in 2021 was his first season playing O-line, where he earned an impressive 2^nd team All-Conference selection for East LA CC. He played defensive end for a year in high school as well as basketball, where he averaged 8 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists a game as a prep.

“Martin was our team captain,” said East LA City College head coach Bobby Godinez. “He’s a high-character kid and his ceiling is limitless. At 6-7/320 and with a basketball background, he has great feet and all-around athleticism, but also has the IQ to match. Cal will be getting a potential All-American if he can keep progressing the way he did here.”

Tine visited along with fellow ‘23 Cal commit Marquis Montgomery‍ over the weekend, where the Bears closed on the big OT.

“It was great over at Cal,” said Tine. “My Juco’s in SoCal and that was my first time being in the bay area and experiencing NorCal. The bay’s a lot different than LA or Houston where I’m from. I kind of like it more.

“My host was TJ Session. We had a great time. The last night I was there, we had a little bonfire in his backyard and I was just chilling with him and a couple of other O-linemen there, having a good time. I felt like I fit in real well.”

Tine noted his relationship with new Cal OL coach Mike Bloesch as a factor in his commitment, too.

“He came over to my house for a visit and we just hit the ground running,” Tine said. “We talked some X’s and O’s and watched some film but most of the time, he was just getting to know me as a person. Him being young and being from Houston like me is cool.”

The Bears will look to add at least another OT and interior player as well through the portal or JC ranks this offseason.

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