Corona del Mar’s Willard Chooses Cal; El Toro’s Cuttrell Commits to Oregon

Jerrott Willard, a linebacker at Corona del Mar High School, said Friday he has made an oral commitment to attend California.

David Cuttrell, an offensive lineman at El Toro, has made an oral commitment to attend Oregon. The first day recruits can sign a letter of intent is Feb. 14.

Willard, 6-feet-2 and 215 pounds, visited Cal last weekend and canceled a trip to Oregon this weekend. He also turned down scholarship offers from Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach.

“It was a tough deal,” Willard said. “Cal wanted me to decide on it pretty soon.”

Willard, the Southern Section Division VI player of the year, showed his versatility at Corona del Mar. He was a linebacker by choice, but also played running back and also made field goals of 47, 45 and 43 yards.

Willard said he will be a linebacker at Cal and expects to redshirt his freshman year.

Cuttrell, 6-5 and 245 pounds, had visited USC, Cal, Iowa and Oregon and also was considering scholarship offers from Ohio State and Colorado.

At Oregon, Cuttrell will join Dan O’Neil and Kealii Clifford of Mater Dei and Mark Slymen of Mission Viejo.

“Oregon had the total package I was looking for,” said Cuttrell, who expects to redshirt his freshman year. “It’s a rising program with good academics and good people.”