CSUN Recruiting Becomes More Focused After Losing Season : College football: Pleased with crop so far, Burt says that for a player to be signed he must fill a precise need.

When Cal State Northridge football Coach Bob Burt said he would make immediate changes after the Matadors’ 3-7 season in 1991, he did not necessarily mean that he would put in more time or become more directly involved in recruiting.

“Our staff works very hard,” Burt said. “They actually work harder than I do. I don’t think I’m any more or less active, but I think we as a staff are a little more choosy in what we want and more firm about sticking to want we want.”

In other words, if a player is lighter or slower or shorter than what the CSUN staff has in mind, he is not being recruited. Also, players who would have to convert to another position are not being signed.

On Wednesday, tight end Marlon McBride enrolled at Northridge to complete the non-high school portion of CSUN’s recruiting for offensive players.

McBride, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior, was an All-American at El Camino College before transferring to Texas El Paso in the spring of 1990. The Miners switched to a run-and-shoot offense, however, which has little use for tight ends, prompting McBride to leave El Paso.

Earlier, Burt signed another tight end, a wide receiver and four offensive linemen. All are from the junior college ranks with the exception of lineman Charlie Williams, a transfer from Houston.

Burt said that it could be the best offensive line he has signed. “The one thing we were after with the offensive line was strength,” he said. “And we got it. Every guy we signed is very strong.”

If Burt is able to sign a few defensive players later this week, his junior college recruiting will be complete.

Williams and tailback Jamal Farmer, a transfer from Hawaii, were unexpected bonuses.

Cree Morris also could be a bonus.

Morris, a sophomore quarterback who is transferring from San Diego State, is expected to visit the Northridge campus next week.

At Northridge, Morris would have two seasons of eligibility, the 1992 season in Division II and the ’93 season in Division I-AA. If Morris transferred to a Division I school he would have to sit out a year and would have only one year of eligibility.

Last fall, Morris started the first four games for the Aztecs, completing 51 of 122 passes for 675 yards and three touchdowns. He threw three interceptions.

Sophomore David Lowery replaced Morris and ran with the job, finishing with 2,575 yards passing, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. San Diego State went 8-4-1. Morris (6-7, 230 pounds) passed for 3,232 yards his senior season at Orange Glen High in Escondido.

If Morris transfers to Northridge the depth chart at quarterback will be full with Marty Fisher and Damone Scott returning for their senior seasons and Coley Kyman back for his sophomore season.

As for high school recruiting, Burt is looking to fill at all positions, particularly with players from the Southland. “I am hoping the high school players will look at Jamal Farmer and Charlie Williams, who have gone away and come back, and decide to stay to begin with,” Burt said.

Manny Vasquez, a 6-0, 265-pound defensive lineman from Sylmar High, plans to make a recruiting visit to Northridge. He also is considering UC Davis.