DAY OF DECISION FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITS : Sturges Commits to So. Utah

Thousand Oaks High linebacker Joe Sturges said Tuesday that he will sign a national letter of intent to play football at Southern Utah State. Sturges, also a catcher on his high school baseball team, indicated that his plans include a college baseball career at the Cedar City campus.

Sturges (6-0, 208) said that he had considered attending Montana and Cal State Northridge. He was a member of The Times’ All-Valley football second team and was named All-Marmonte League and All-Ventura County.

“I liked the surroundings,” Sturges said of his choice. “You can go hunting and fishing. It’s out of the way.

“They won two of three games against Division I teams last season. That impressed me.”

Several other Valley-area players announced their decisions. Today is the first day athletes can officially sign national letters of intent for fall sports.

Greg Spaulding, defensive end from Calabasas, chose Cal State Northridge after talking to recruiters from Arizona State, Arizona and Washington. Spaulding was the defensive player of the year in the Frontier League, leading Calabasas to the semifinal round of the Desert-Mountain Conference playoffs.

Sylmar running back Sean Hampton, who led the Valley in rushing in 1985, said Monday that he will attend the University of Hawaii. Hampton said he had considered New Mexico and Texas-El Paso. After leading all City Section rushers in the Valley his junior year, Hampton was slowed in 1986 by injuries. Hampton gained 737 yards on 167 carries, a 4.4 average, with six touchdowns.

Cornell Collier, a first-team All-Valley linebacker from Taft, has committed to Cal. Collier also visited San Diego State and Oregon. Collier played running back at Taft, gaining 560 yards on 105 carries, a 5.3 average with 3 touchdowns.

Trevor Doyle, a wide receiver from Canyon, said he will sign with Weber State. He also visited Northern Arizona. Doyle, who played defensive back as well, caught 34 passes for 798 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Chris Hite, a running back from Hart, said he has received a near-full scholarship to Santa Clara University. Hite was the Valley’s leading receiver with 88 catches for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns for Hart, which won the Northwestern Conference championship.

Jeff Newman, a quarterback at Kennedy, has committed to Hawaii. Newman completed 45 of 84 passes for 744 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Akili Calhoun, a defensive lineman at Kennedy, will attend Cal State Fullerton. Calhoun was a member of the Valley’s best defense and excelled as a pass rusher.

According to USA Today, Harvard kicker Dominic Sandifer’s 59-yeard field goal was the nation’s longest among high school players. Sandifer is one of four Valley football players to commit to UCLA, joining Hart’s Jim Bonds, Crespi’s Sean Howard and Kennedy’s Dion Lambert.

TOP VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS

College Player Comments Choice RALPH BLANKS An All-Marmonte League Cal Royal High safety, he is also a top Def. Back, 6-4, 180 kick returner. JIM BONDS Northwestern Conference UCLA Hart High player of year and USA Quarterback, 6-0, 185 Today honorable mention. JOHN CARPENTER All-Valley and All-Big 5 Stanford Crespi High Conference, Carpenter Tight End, 6-5, 230 also played linebacker. CORNELL COLLIER The Sunset League defen- Cal Taft High sive player of the year Linebacker, 6-3, 205 and All-Valley. SEAN HAMPTON All-Valley in 1985 when Hawaii Sylmar High he led area in rushing. Fullback, 5-10, 200 Injured much of 1986. BILL HANEY All-Marmonte League, he Oregon Camarillo High had to hold up a mediocre Linebacker, 6-3, 230 defense. SEAN HOWARD USA Today All-American UCLA Crespi High and Times Valley lineman Linebacker, 6-5, 220 of the year. DION LAMBERT All-City and All-Valley, he UCLA Kennedy High also was Kennedy’s top Def. Back, 6-2, 175 pass receiver. DOMINIC SANDIFER USA Today honorable UCLA Harvard High mention; had longest field Kicker, 5-10 160 goal (59) in the nation. RON SIMMONS Twice All-City and All- BYU Kennedy High Valley center; started Center, 6-4, 245 on area’s best defense. KEN SOLLOM Coastal Conference co- Michigan Canyon High player of the year Quarterback, 6-2, 190 and All-Valley.