County’s Top Rusher Picks Arizona : High schools: Wildcats gain Oceanside’s Terry Vaughn, but SDSU loses Mira Mesa’s J.J. Rowlett to UTEP.

Oceanside’s Terry Vaughn, the county’s leading rusher last fall, said Tuesday he has orally committed to play football at the University of Arizona, and Mira Mesa’s J.J. Rowlett rescinded on an earlier decision to attend San Diego State.

SDSU, though, received an oral commitment from linebacker Lawrence Calhoun, a 6-foot, 200-pounder from Long Beach Poly High. Calhoun, who also visited Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton, said he will receive a full scholarship to SDSU.

Rowlett, meanwhile, said he will attend the University of Texas El Paso instead of SDSU as last minute jockeying continued by both players and coaches. Today is the first day high school football recruits can sign a national letter of intent to play in college.

Vaughn, 5-feet-9, 176-pounds, also took trips to Washington, Brigham Young and UCLA, as well as an unofficial trip to Clemson. One of the reasons he chose Arizona is that he will be able to play baseball there in addition to football.

“Arizona was the best place,” Vaughn said. “I like the competition in baseball, and the football program has been great for the past five years. I think I’ll be playing as a freshman in both sports, and I think I can play with them.”

Vaughn, who rushed for 1,496 yards last season, will play outfield for the Wildcat baseball team.

Rowlett’s switch from SDSU to UTEP was confirmed by Mira Mesa Coach Brad Griffith.

So far, SDSU is known to have received oral commitments from 18 players, including three community college players.

The Aztecs seem to have filled some of their needs at this point, but not all of them. They found a punter--Jason Savorn of Cordova High School (Rancho Cordova)--to replace Joe Santos, and they have received oral commitments from four linebackers. San Diego State Coach Al Luginbill was particularly interested in recruiting linebackers, where the Aztecs were weak last year.

Savorn, 6-2, 195, averaged 47 yards per punt last season.

Two more San Diego County players committed Tuesday--Ramona offensive tackle Adam Klukowski to Utah State and San Pasqual offensive tackle Lee Johnston to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Klukowski (6-6, 270) was called by his coach Mel Galli the most improved player on Ramona’s 2-A semifinal team.

“If we can get every kid to improve as much as Adam did last year, we’d have a great team next year,” Galli said. “He’s a project for (Utah State), but he could be a real good player in three years.”

Johnston (6-1, 262) visited Army as well as William and Mary before committing to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“He’s a great run blocker; the best lineman we’ve ever had,” San Pasqual Coach Mike Dolan said. “We’ve had a couple of kids who have gone to USC, but I think he is the best we’ve had. The problem is people won’t look at him because he is 6-1, not 6-3 or 6-4.”

Cornerback Josh Wright (6-2, 172) of Rancho Buena Vista committed to Air Force.

“They have a great football program and great academics,” Wright said. “They play in a passing league and play good schools--Notre Dame, the WAC, and they’ll be playing Alabama soon.”

Outside linebacker Derek Ross (6-4, 216) of Mt. Carmel had previously committed to Colorado State. “I like his character first, without a doubt,” Mt. Carmel Coach Bill Christopher said. “He’s got good feet and he’s just a good hitter.”

Dave McKibben contributed to this report.