3 Area Football Players Commit to Big West Teams

Crespi High quarterback Cody Smith, Ventura center Justin Werth and Sylmar wide receiver Brian Roberson have committed to Big West Conference schools.

Smith, who set several school passing records in his three-year varsity career, and Werth, an All-Ventura County center, committed to play in the fall at Pacific. Roberson, an All-Valley selection, committed to Fresno State.

Smith (6-foot-3, 228 pounds) passed for 2,044 yards and 20 touchdowns last season to lead Crespi to the Mission League championship, the school’s first league title since 1973. Smith also took a recruiting trip to Louisiana Tech.

It is expected that Smith will redshirt his first season, then battle for the starting berth with former Fountain Valley standout David Henigan, the Southern Section Division I co-player of the year as a senior in 1988.

Troy Kopp, Pacific’s starting quarterback, will be a senior in the fall. Pacific, which uses the run-and-shoot offense, has ranked among the NCAA Division I leaders in passing yardage over the past few seasons.

“They throw the ball twice as much as anybody else,” Smith said. “When you take trips, sometimes you just know where your niche is. I liked it there.”

Werth (6-4, 250) chose Pacific over Fresno State and Montana.

Roberson (5-11, 170) chose Fresno State after Bulldog Coach Jim Sweeney visited his home Tuesday night. Roberson also visited Washington State and Colorado State and canceled trips to Kansas and Oregon.

“Fresno was my first trip and I loved it there,” Roberson said. “I loved the people and it seemed like the right environment for me. The way Coach Sweeney talked to me made me feel more at home.”

Roberson, who also played as a defensive back, excelled as a big-play threat for Sylmar last fall. He scored 15 touchdowns. He might earn a chance to play as a return man as a freshman but still needs to meet NCAA academic requirements.