SDSU Winning the Recruiting Battle at Home : Southwestern’s Platt Signs, May Be First of Local Community College Influx

San Diego State, which won its first Western Athletic Conference football championship this year, is also winning local community college recruits.

Southwestern College quarterback Brad Platt signed a letter of intent Wednesday with the Aztecs and said he will redshirt in 1987. Five other locals are leaning toward SDSU.

Three of those expected to sign with the Aztecs are Platt’s teammates--kicker Tyler Ackerson, wide receiver Robert Claiborne and running back Danny Holmes.

“All of them have indicated their No. 1 choice is San Diego State,” Southwestern Coach Bob Mears said. “It’s great for local kids to stay local. Every college coach or recruiter who comes through here is interested in these players. It’s a feather in San Diego State’s cap that it may end up with all of them.”

Ackerson made 8 of 16 field-goal attempts, including a school record 59-yarder. Claiborne had 62 receptions and 7 touchdowns. Holmes rushed for 1,024 yards, becoming the second player in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

They all plan to make recruiting trips before deciding. Platt, who passed for 2,545 yards and 23 touchdowns, did not make another trip after visiting SDSU.

“I think it’s a good time to jump into their program after they have won the WAC,” said Platt, a Hilltop High School graduate. “I know Coach (Denny) Stolz has been a winner at every school he was at. . . . I feel if I go there, I’ll be on a winning team.”

When SDSU signed Platt, it may have ended a trend. Under Coach Doug Scovil, SDSU rarely signed local community college or high school players.

“There is definitely a friendlier attitude toward the junior colleges from San Diego State,” said Len Smorin, San Diego Mesa coach. “A lot of players probably left San Diego in the past because San Diego State didn’t recruit them.”

The Aztecs are expected to concentrate on community college recruiting because they lose 32 seniors this year. Their immediate needs are at wide receiver, tight end, running back, defensive line and linebacker.

Mesa wide receiver De Angelo Mitchell, a San Diego High School graduate, said he will visit Illinois Friday before deciding. Mitchell caught 70 passes this year, including 14 for touchdowns.

“I’m a hometown boy and probably want to stay here,” Mitchell said. “We had a guy here last year who wanted to go to San Diego State, and they didn’t recruit him. The new coaches are recruiting a lot of San Diego kids.”

Tom Craft, Palomar coach, said running back LaMont Parks will likely sign with SDSU Monday. Parks rushed for 778 yards this year despite missing two games with a strained knee.

Palomar defensive end Brad Henke had all but decided on USC until Coach Ted Tollner was fired this week. Henke had 11 1/2 sacks and 129 tackles this year.

“Until we hear from USC, Brad is pretty much unsigned,” Craft said. “If he doesn’t go to USC, I think San Diego State is his top choice.”

Aztec Notes

Quarterback Brad Platt was one of two local community college players signing a letter of intent Wednesday. Center Mark Marshall of San Diego Mesa signed with Indiana State. Mitchell was a second-team all-Mission Conference player. . . . The Holiday Bowl Television Network and ESPN will both televise the Holiday Bowl Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. when SDSU plays Iowa. The Holiday Bowl Television Network is based in Salt Lake City and contracts independently with stations throughout the country. The game will be televised locally on a two-hour delay by Channel 8. It will be broadcast live by KFMB 760 and KSDO 1130.