San Fernando High, Valley Standouts Pick Universities

Running back Leonice Brown of San Fernando High and quarterback Trendell Williams of Valley College orally committed to four-year colleges Monday.

Brown committed to Colorado State of the Western Athletic Conference, and Williams will attend Cal State Fullerton of the Big West Conference. Each player can sign a national letter of intent on Feb. 6, the first day of the winter signing period.

Fullerton also recruited Brown, but he canceled trips to Fullerton and Oregon after visiting Colorado State over the weekend. Previously, he had visited San Diego State.

After rushing for 1,097 yards as a junior at Crespi, Brown (6-foot, 182 pounds) transferred to San Fernando and gained 1,060 yards for the Tigers.

“I know they run the ball a lot, and they use the I formation, and I’m used to that,” Brown said of the Rams. “I want to go to a place where I get a chance to play, and I liked the environment there.”

Brown, who carries a 2.8 grade-point average, still must score at least 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test in order to earn a scholarship, under guidelines set down by the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. He said he will take the test for the first time Saturday.

Williams, the Western State Conference Southern Division offensive player of the year in 1989, completed 143 of 286 passes for 1,955 yards and nine touchdowns during his career at Valley.

Williams, who split time at quarterback with Mark Mengoni in 1990, completed 77 of 146 passes for 848 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He made recruiting trips to Arkansas, Montana State and Fullerton.

“Oregon State was talking to him also, but he decided to go to Fullerton,” Valley Coach Chuck Ferrero said. “He felt like Fullerton was the best opportunity for him.”