Small, Hale Cast Lots With Pac-10 Schools

Two Valley-area high school football players who gained recognition for their exploits on offense will switch to defense when they begin their collegiate careers at Pacific 10 Conference schools next fall.

Errol Small of Notre Dame High, the 1989 San Fernando Valley League Player of the Year, has made an oral commitment to attend USC on a football scholarship.

Simi Valley’s Eric Hale, a Times second-team All-Ventura County selection on defense, has accepted an offer to attend Oregon State. The first day players can sign national letters of intent is Feb. 14.

Small, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound tailback and defensive back, rushed for 1,467 yards, scored 26 touchdowns and intercepted five passes during his senior season.

“I wasn’t getting recruited that much to play running back, just by smaller schools,” said Small, who will play safety for the Trojans.

Small also visited Colorado and UCLA, but he said that USC was his first choice.

“I’ve just wanted to play Trojan football since I was a little kid,” he said. “The opportunity was brought forth and I took advantage of it.”

Hale (6-5, 215) also will concentrate on defense after playing linebacker, quarterback and tailback for the Pioneers.

Hale canceled trips to Arizona State, BYU, Cal State Fullerton and San Diego State after a visit to Corvallis two weeks ago.

“The people and the coaches were a big part of my decision,” Hale said. “I felt very comfortable there and everyone was very friendly.”