Cleveland Adds Shiloh Wickliffe Mid-Season
The junior, who had shoulder surgery in November, joined the football team after the season began and has rushed for 121 yards in a single game.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Football
Cleveland High added junior Shiloh Wickliffe to its varsity football roster mid-season after coach Mario Guzman agreed to the request. Wickliffe made his debut in the third game against Castaic and now helps lead a 10-0 team into its City Section Open Division playoff opener.
Why it matters
The addition gives Cleveland another playmaker as it moves into the postseason, especially after running back Moyo Odebunmi suffered a season-ending injury. Wickliffe's late arrival is an unusual exception to the usual roster timeline, and his performance has shifted the team's playoff outlook.
Wickliffe's rushing total of 121 yards and four touchdowns against Taft was the most notable single-game output reported this season. He is 5 feet 8 inches and 165 pounds and must complete 10 mandatory days of practice before playing in games.
The players
Shiloh Wickliffe
A junior at Cleveland High who previously played freshman football at Sierra Canyon and batted .302 last season in baseball.
Mario Guzman
The Cleveland High football coach who agreed to add Wickliffe to the varsity roster mid-season.
Moyo Odebunmi
A Cleveland High running back whose season-ending injury opened a larger role for Wickliffe.
The details
Wickliffe had shoulder surgery in November and asked Guzman to join the team after the season had started. Guzman agreed because he felt Wickliffe's attitude and team-oriented approach fit the program, and Wickliffe first started as a receiver before moving to running back.
Timeline
November 2025: Wickliffe had shoulder surgery.
Fall 2025: Wickliffe was on campus and known as a potential football ringer.
Third game of the season: Wickliffe made his debut against Castaic.
Tenth game of the season: Odebunmi's injury elevated Wickliffe's role.
Friday, November 13, 2026: Cleveland opens the City Section playoffs at home against Crenshaw.
Season Trajectory
Mid-season additions of this kind are uncommon in high school football and typically depend on coach discretion and eligibility rules. Wickliffe's late entry shows how a single player can alter a playoff team's outlook after an injury to a key contributor.
Fantasy and recruiting observers tracking Cleveland High should note Wickliffe's rushing output as a factor for the playoff run. Fans attending the Crenshaw game can expect Wickliffe to be part of the offensive rotation.
The takeaway
Late additions can change a team's trajectory when a key player is lost, and Wickliffe's performance shows the value of flexible roster decisions. Readers following the City Section playoffs should watch how Cleveland uses him in its first postseason game.
What happens next
Cleveland opens the City Section Open Division playoffs at home against Crenshaw on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the city's prep squads and playoff picture, see the Los Angeles Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
