Fullerton, USC Lure Some of Area Stars

USC and Cal State Fullerton appear to be the big winners as four Orange County football players are expected to sign with each school today, the first day preps can sign national letters of intent.

The Rose Bowl-winning Trojans have verbal commitments from three top linemen--La Habra’s Dan Owens, Fountain Valley’s Brad Leggett and El Toro’s Chuck Kunsaitis--and Esperanza’s versatile fullback-linebacker Derrick Gachett.

Fullerton, which enjoyed its best season ever with an 11-1 record last fall, has commitments from Tom Holler of La Quinta, Tim Byrnes of Sunny Hills, Todd Prukop of Servite and Kurt Bloedorn of Brea-Olinda.

USC assistant coach Russ Purnell said he landed every county player he pursued with the exception of Newport Harbor tackle Mike Beech. Beech, 6-foot, 7-inches, 268 pounds, opted for rival UCLA after narrowing his choices to the Bruins, Trojans and the University of Washington.

Gachett, 6-2, 215, narrowed his choices to Arizona State and USC before deciding on the Trojans. He is expected to be tried out as a fullback.

Titan Coach Gene Murphy culminated his most successful recruiting season at Fullerton by landing Holler, The Times’ Lineman of the Year in Orange County. Holler, 6-2, 245, was a three-year starter at La Quinta and was the Garden Grove League’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Byrnes was a standout linebacker-fullback at Sunny Hills, leading the Lancers to the Central Conference championship in 1983. He said he most likely will redshirt his freshman season and will opt to play running back at Fullerton.

Utah’s new head football coach, Jim Fassel, will get two Orange County stars. Fassel, a former standout at Anaheim High and Fullerton College, has verbal commitments from Fountain Valley wide receiver Carl Harry and Edison defensive back Eric Wheelwright.

Harry is the younger brother of former Stanford star Emile Harry, who also played for Fountain Valley and was Southern California’s Player of the Year in 1980. Wheelwright is the son of Ernie Wheelwright, a former running back in the National Football League.

Quarterback Brett Johnson of El Modena and wide receiver Chip Rish of Marina were not discouraged by Darryl Rogers’ decision to leave Arizona State and join the Detriot Lions of the NFL. Both players are expected to sign with the Sun Devils. Rish, the state’s 400-meter champion, will also compete in track.

Running back Jim Farrell, who established a county record by scoring 32 touchdowns for Esperanza, and teammate Keith Pontiflet are expected to sign with Colorado.

The Recruiting Trail

Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. DT Tom Allison Los Alamitos 6-4 215 TE Brad Arnold University 6-3 215 OT Mike Beech Newport Harbor 6-7 268 TB Greg Benjamin University 6-1 200 P Kurt Bloedorn Brea-Olinda 6-5 195 LB Tim Byrnes Sunny Hills 6-0 210 RB Sean Conboy Los Alamitos 6-0 180 PK Chris Drennan Cypress 5-10 180 TB Jim Farrell Esperanza 6-2 180 C Ken Felix Capo Valley 6-2 266 FB Derrick Gachett Esperanza 6-2 215 QB Rodney Gatlin El Toro 6-3 185 DT John Garcia Sonora 6-4 215 TE Dave Gazzaniga Foothill 6-6 225 WR Carl Harry Fountain Valley 6-0 165 QB Pat Hegarty Tustin 6-1 190 OT Steve Hingst Foothill 6-5 225 OT Tom Holler La Quinta 6-2 245 QB Keith Jarrett Edison 6-1 175 QB Brett Johnson El Modena 6-1 190 OT Tom Kitchens Newport Harbor 6-6 235 DB Greg Koperek Edison 5-10 175 OT Chuck Kunsaitis El Toro 6-7 240 OT Brad Leggett Fountain Valley 6-5 250 LB David Lopez Edison 6-3 210 TE Mike McGlinchey Ocean View 6-4 225 OT David McKinnon Fullerton 6-5 268 DB Tim McLain El Toro 5-11 170 OG Don Miller Esperanza 6-3 250 OG Dan Owens La Habra 6-4 230 WR Keith Pontiflet Esperanza 6-0 170 DB Todd Prukop Servite 6-4 185 WR Chip Rish Marina 5-10 155 OT John Suggs Mater Dei 6-4 235 OT Rich Walk Esperanza 6-4 240 DB Eric Wheelwright Edison 6-2 175

Pos. College Visits Choice DT Air Force Air Force TE CS Long Beach, Cal Poly SLO Undecided OT UCLA, Washington, USC UCLA TB CS Fullerton, Austin Peay Aus. Peay P CS Fullerton CSF LB CS Fullerton CSF RB Air Force, Army Air Force PK Nebraska Nebraska TB Hawaii, Utah St., Utah, Colorado Colorado C Oregon State Ore. State FB Ariz, USC, Oregon, Utah, Colo. USC QB Oregon, Arizona, CS Fullerton Undecided DT Army Army TE Dartmouth, Cal Dartmouth WR BYU, Utah Utah QB Cal Poly San Luis Obispo CPSLO OT Harvard, Nrthwstrn, Cal, Stanford Cal OT UNLV, San Diego St., Cal, CSF CSF QB Boise State Boise St. QB ASU, Arizona, BYU, Washington ASU OT Air Force, Army, Navy, Cal Air Force DB Boise St., CSF, N. Ariz., UOP Pacific OT USC, UNLV, Colo., Ariz., Wash. USC OT BYU, LSU, USC USC LB Pacific Pacific TE Air Force Air Force OT CS Long Beach, CS Fullerton CSLB DB Cal Poly SLO, Air Force Air Force OG UNLV, Utah, Oregon UNLV OG Washington, USC, ASU, Arizona USC WR Oregon, UNLV, Utah, Colorado Colorado DB Utah, Cal Poly SLO, CSF CSF WR ASU, Arizona, USC, CSLB ASU OT Army Army OT Oregon, Utah, Colo., Arizona Ariz. or Ore. DB Utah, Boise State Utah