Titans Sign Quarterback and Nine Other Transfers

Ten community college football players, including Citrus quarterback Mark Wilson and Golden West offensive lineman Rabinder Khurana, have signed letters of intent with Cal State Fullerton and are expected to enroll this spring, Titan Coach Gene Murphy said.

Wilson is a mobile, 6-foot-2, 200-pounder who should challenge for the starting position in Fullerton’s new option offense. Murphy decided to scrap the Titans’ one-back offense, and 1991 quarterbacks Chad May and Terry Payne plan to transfer.

Wilson ran a pro-style offense at Citrus and completed 76 of 153 passes for 1,121 yards and six touchdowns last season. But Citrus Coach Mike Merandi said Wilson should have no trouble adjusting to the option, which Wilson ran at Upland High School.

“He’s an outstanding athlete and has excellent speed, so physically, you bet he can run the option,” Merandi said. “In our offense, he only ran when he had to scramble, but he’s one of the best athletes we’ve had here.”

Khurana is a 6-2, 280-pound lineman who earned first-team All-Mission Conference Central Division honors in 1991. He joins two other offensive linemen in the Titans’ early recruiting class, Alex McTrusty (5-11, 305) of Grossmont and Ben Siliga (6-1, 295) of San Bernardino Valley. Siliga is a Santa Ana High graduate.

The other signees are Eric Gamble, a 6-0, 230-pound fullback from El Camino; Michael Peters, a 5-10, 184-pound running back from Cerritos; Al Whitten, a 6-0, 210-pound cornerback from Modesto; Vince Bonner, a 5-11, 185-pound cornerback from El Camino; Tim O’Neil, a 6-0, 210-pound free safety from Fresno City, and Tracey George, a 6-3, 260-pound defensive end from San Joaquin Delta.

“We think a lot of them will help us right away,” Murphy said. “It’s also a big factor getting them in for spring practice. You usually see a vast improvement in (community college) players after one year.”