Standout Season Not Surprising to Cal’s Willard : Citrus: Former Corona del Mar linebacker, who has excelled as a freshman for the Golden Bears, expects nothing less from himself.

Jerrott Willard, a 6-foot-2, 223-pound linebacker at California, was a freshman All-American this season. He was the only freshman to start regularly for the Golden Bears. And he once made 17 tackles in a single game.

People have told him it’s been a great season. They’re surprised and happy for Willard, a former Corona del Mar standout who will play in the Citrus Bowl today at Orlando, Fla.

Willard nods and says, “thank you very much.” He is grateful for the praise and pleased to have accomplished what he has, but he knows he should have done it all.

Anything less, and 1991 would have been a flop--at least in Willard’s mind.

It seems Willard’s expectations are as limitless as his talent. Going back to his Pop Warner days, he’s always wanted more from himself. Usually, he’s gotten it, too.

At Corona del Mar, the Sea Kings won consecutive Southern Section Division VI championships, going 12-0-2 in 1988 and 11-3 in 1989. He was named the division’s player of the year in 1989, his senior season.

He was 6-2, 220 in high school, and he was a winner. He knew he would make a great college linebacker, but only a few others recognized his potential.

Cal finally offered Willard a scholarship, but only after another linebacker the Bears were recruiting decided to go elsewhere.

First choice, second choice--it didn’t matter to Willard. He knew he wouldn’t have any problems measuring up in the Pacific 10 Conference.

“I was under-recruited,” he said. “When Cal came around (with its offer), I told them, ‘I won’t let you down.’ ”

Even after a pinched nerve in his neck forced him to red-shirt during his first season at Cal, he was confident he would win a starting spot. All that concerned him was returning to full strength.

Injuries in the linebacker corps during spring drills left openings for Willard to prove himself to the coaching staff. He didn’t disappoint. By the fall, he had won a spot at inside linebacker.

“It felt good to start, but again, that’s what I expected of myself,” Willard said. “I haven’t come close to what I want to do.”

He started all 11 games this season, but he won’t start against Clemson today. Willard, linebacker Mick Barsala and cornerback Wolf Barber will be benched for missing a practice at Berkeley without Coach Bruce Snyder’s permission. All are expected to see considerable playing time, however.

Disciplinary action has been about the only way to get Willard off the field this season.

After all, playing in the Bears’ attacking, blitzing defense has been a joy. Willard can’t resist being in the midst of all the action, and in Snyder’s defensive scheme, many times he can’t avoid it.

His size--small compared to many other Division I linebackers--is perfectly suited to the Bears’ defense.

“I’m not real big, but I’m not real thin,” he said. “Some linebackers, all they do is plug holes in the middle, but they can’t catch a running back on the sideline. I think it’s a mind set. I don’t feel like I have to be 240 pounds to play like I’m 240 pounds.”

Still, he will face the difficult task of stopping Clemson’s option offense led by quarterback DeChane Cameron and tailback Rodney Blunt. That combination of speed and strength Willard spoke of will come in handy in tracking down Cameron and Blunt today.

“Overall, they’ve got a really big team,” Willard said. “They’re probably the biggest team we’ve played. They are the quickest, most agile team we’ve faced. Very fast, very tough to deal with. We’ve got to contain their quarterback.”

Winning today means taking some of the sting out of the Bears’ worst game of the year--a humiliating, 38-21 loss to Stanford in the final regular-season game. If there’s one memory of ’91 Willard could erase, it’s that loss. Even his 17-tackle performance couldn’t lift the Bears.

Cal players had shot their mouths off before, and even during the game, but Stanford shut them up good when it was over.

“That was the worst,” Willard said. “It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t know if winning will take the taste away, but it might make it a little less sour.”

The Stanford game was one of only two losses Cal suffered this season (the other to Washington), and Willard doesn’t want a third one today.

It all goes back to his high expectations.

“My whole high school career I lost four games,” he said. “I really didn’t know how to lose at Corona del Mar. I’d always won. I came to Cal and didn’t expect to lose.”