Glendale Pair Sign With CS Northridge

Like a gambler with a system, Cal State Northridge sticks with a successful combination.

The Matador football team plucked linebacker Tracy Anderson out of Glendale College two years ago, quarterback Rob Huffman last year and it already has signed two more Vaquero players in the early stages of this recruiting season.

Dave Benefield, a 6-4, 210-pound strong safety, and Greg Little, a 6-4, 260-pound offensive guard, have signed letters of intent with Northridge, according to Gary Spielbuehler, Glendale’s defensive line coach.

Benefield was a part-time starter who was bothered by an ankle injury for much of last season. Little, a two-year starter, was an All-Western State Conference selection.

Northridge lost three of its four starters in the secondary and needs to replace three starters on the offensive line. The Matadors can only hope Benefield and Little contribute as capably as did Anderson and Huffman. Both were starters during a 7-4 season in 1987.

Northridge has not released the list of junior college players it has signed, but the Matadors are said to have talked to about two dozen players from Glendale, Moorpark and Valley colleges alone.

Cal Lutheran, which is trying to improve on a 5-6 season, has not announced the signing of any junior college players, either, but more than 20 prospects have visited the campus. The Kingsmen are expected to enroll about a dozen JC transfers when the school’s second term begins Feb. 1.

Among the players expected to receive an offer from Cal Lutheran is offensive guard Mo Loller from Moorpark.

Eight players from Valley and Glendale have signed letters with other schools. No Moorpark player has signed but several are being recruited.

From Glendale, in addition to Benefield and Little, linebacker Jerry DiMaggio and defensive back Louis Greggs signed with Pacific and offensive tackle Ara Derderian signed with San Jose State.

From Valley, tailback Dondre Bausley has signed with Oregon, wide receiver James Reaves with Nevada Reno and fullback Howard Howell with Nevada Las Vegas. Bausley rushed for 1,477 yards and scored 22 touchdowns last season. Reaves had 45 receptions for 829 yards and 13 touchdowns.