CS Northridge Adds Highly Touted Tackle to Offensive Line

The image of Albert Fann, ball tucked under arm, legs churning, has caused more than one defensive coordinator a sleepless night.

But to this haunting scene, the Cal State Northridge football team has added another nightmarish figure. Next season, ushering Fann through the line will be tackle Don Goodman.

The first thing opponents might like to know about Goodman is that he was recruited, out of Cerritos College, by the likes of USC and Brigham Young. He stands 6-foot-8 and weighs in the neighborhood of 340 pounds.

Goodman, who played in junior college bowl games in 1987 and ’88 but did not play last season, is among a group of four transfers who accepted scholarship offers from Northridge during the weekend. In the past two weeks, 13 JC players, including six offensive lineman, have committed to CSUN.

But Goodman could be the best of the lot.

“Donnie has it all. He’s a major-league guy,” Cerritos Coach Frank Mazzotta said. “He could play pro football some day.”

Also accepting an offer from CSUN was Kevin Newton, a 6-4, 260-pound guard who was a teammate of Goodman’s two seasons ago. Newton is a triple transfer, having signed with Texas A&M; out of high school before transferring to Cerritos. He attended New Mexico last year but did not play football.

In addition, CSUN secured the services of lineman Broderick Jenkins (6-3, 255) from Glendale College, who plays either guard or tackle, and filled a key void on defense by signing Mario Hull from Santa Monica City College.

Hull, a 6-4, 210-pound strong safety, is expected to replace Daved Benefield at an outside linebacker position. Benefield, an All-Western Football Conference selection last season, also played strong safety in junior college.

“He’s a great athlete who needs to play somewhere,” Burt said of Hull. “We know he can contribute and we think that’s the spot for him.”

Hull, who chose CSUN over several Big West and Western Athletic Conference schools, did so in part because of his friendship with Fann, a former Cleveland High teammate.