RECRUITING / JEFF FELLENZER : Back to the Future: Muir’s McCullough Pictures a Heisman Trophy

When University of Miami quarterback Gino Torretta was announced as the winner of the Heisman Trophy during televised ceremonies from the Downtown Athletic Club in New York Saturday, one teen-age viewer in Pasadena saw his future flash in front of him.

“If you keep yourself together, that could be you,” Mabel McCullough said to her son Saladin, the fourth of six brothers and one of Southern California’s premier running back prospects.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound McCullough, who combines speed, acceleration and the ability to run inside and outside, recently finished his senior season at Pasadena Muir. He averaged nearly nine yards a carry and rushed for 2,138 yards in 13 games. He led the Southern Section in scoring with 36 touchdowns. McCullough helped the Mustangs advance to the Division II semifinals, where they were eliminated by eventual co-champion Esperanza, 28-7. In that game, McCullough lost a yard in eight carries, but returned a kickoff 98 yards for Muir’s touchdown.

“He’s a very talented young man, one of the fastest in Southern California,” says Dick Lascola of the Fallbrook, Calif.-based Scouting Evaluation Assn. “He could even play as a corner in college.”

McCullough, whose first name (pronounced Saul-a-deen) translates to “warrior” in Arabic, has scheduled visits to San Diego State, Brigham Young, Washington and USC. His fifth visit is likely to be Colorado, although he’s still considering Cal.

McCullough, who has passed the NCAA-mandated score of 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and says he’s close to passing the necessary core classes to assure freshman eligibility, will visit San Diego State this weekend, where he’s looking forward to meeting Heisman runner-up and All-American running back Marshall Faulk. He’ll also see familiar faces at BYU, where his brother Hassan is a freshman defensive back, and Washington, where good friend and former Muir teammate Reggie Reser is a second-year freshman cornerback.

“I’m really a USC fan,” acknowledged McCullough, citing his friendship with former Muir and USC running back Ricky Ervins, who now plays for the Washington Redskins. “If I go to school there, my family can see my games. But going away might be good for me. I have to set the fan stuff aside and pick the best school for me.”

When he does, he can begin working toward another dream.

“My goal is to be introduced on television someday as one of the Heisman Trophy candidates,” McCullough said.

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College recruiters are spending more time at Duarte High, where a quartet of superb seniors led the Falcons to a 12-1 record, the best season in school history.

Duarte was undefeated until the Division VI championship game last week, when Placentia Valencia took advantage of a first-quarter hamstring injury to Duarte quarterback Greg Ainsworth that limited his effectiveness, and held on for a 23-15 victory.

Ainsworth (6-0, 180) was the key to Duarte’s option offense. He rushed for more than 1,400 yards, passed for 700 and scored 21 touchdowns. But he had plenty of help. Fullback Johnnie Shelton (6-0, 240), a punishing runner who drags defenders with him, rushed for more than 1,200 yards and scored 17 touchdowns; halfback Nathaniel Jacquet (6-1, 170) averaged nearly 10 yards a carry on his way to more than 600 yards rushing, and Joe Barnes (5-10, 185) was a running and receiving threat out of the backfield.

What’s more, all four played offense and

defense. Barnes, who was used as a rover in Duarte’s defense, is projected as a cornerback or strong safety in college.

“He runs well, is real physical and makes plays,” Duarte Coach Bob Rau said. “Joe’s a no-fear kind of guy. And he has great, great character.”

So far, Barnes has drawn interest from UCLA, USC, Washington State, Fresno State (where he has already made an official visit), Hawaii and San Jose State.

Among schools who have contacted Ainsworth are USC, Kansas, San Diego State, Hawaii, Fresno State, Oregon State and San Jose State.

Shelton is the nephew of former Oregon State and NBA forward Lonnie Shelton. Another uncle, Milt Jackson, was an NFL wide receiver.

Rau believes that Barnes and Ainsworth will pass required score on the SAT and be eligible to play next season. However, low grades will probably cause Shelton and Jacquet to attend a community college. Shelton may wind up at Fresno City College, where his older brother Damon, also a former Duarte football standout, is playing.

Notes

UCLA’s recruiting class got a big early boost when Travis Kirschke (6-4 1/2, 250) of Anaheim Esperanza made an unwritten commitment Monday night. Kirschke, who reminds some coaches of a young Howie Long, is generally regarded as the top defensive line prospect in the state. Kirschke’s decision may also help the Bruins sign another Esperanza prospect, defensive lineman Brian Werner (6-5, 235), younger brother of UCLA defensive tackle Matt Werner. . .The consensus choice among coaches and scouts for the West’s best senior running back prospect is Mike Mitchell, a 6-1, 205-pounder from Phoenix Brophy Prep. Mitchell rushed for 2,201 yards in 234 carries, an amazing 9.4 yards a carry, and 28 touchdowns this season. He’s also a good student. Mitchell made an official visit to Arizona State last weekend, and has also been to Notre Dame and Cal. He was in South Bend, Ind., on Nov. 14, when Notre Dame beat Penn State, 17-16. “He had a great time, but I’m not sure about the cold weather,” Brophy Prep Coach Tim Sanford said. Mitchell has trips scheduled to UCLA and Stanford. According to one source, Mitchell has already given Stanford an unwritten commitment.

Beverly Hills linebacker Rasheed Hibler (6-2,

240) visited Cal last weekend and was offered a scholarship. He also has trips scheduled to Washington State and Kansas. . . . Stanford, which loses its top three running backs--Glyn Milburn, Ellery Roberts and J.J. Lasley--will also get a visit from Randy Kinder (6-1, 195) of East Lansing, Mich., perhaps the top running back in the Midwest. Kinder is also considering Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame.

Notre Dame’s offensive line got a boost last week when 6-7, 295-pound Chris Kurpeikis of Pittsburgh Central Catholic gave the Irish an unwritten commitment. Kurpeikis, who attends the same high school that produced Dan Marino, is rated the top offensive tackle in the country by Tom Lemming of Schaumburg, Ill., who publishes Prep Football Report. Notre Dame also received an unwritten commitment from a top tight end prospect, Rick Kaczenski (6-5, 245) of Erie, Pa., who some scouts project as an offensive lineman. . . . UCLA is among those schools actively recruiting another highly touted Pennsylvania player, fullback/linebacker Jon Ritchie (6-3, 230) of Mechanicsburg. Ritchie reportedly favors Michigan and Stanford.

One of the top players in Texas, inside linebacker George Howell (6-3, 220) of Irving, has given an unwritten commitment to Michigan. . . . Germaine Gray, Rialto Eisenhower’s 6-5, 255-pound defensive tackle, was at Washington State the day the Cougars upset Washington on a field better suited for dog-sled racing. Gray is planning to visit Cal, Washington and Florida State and is considering visits to Arizona State and Colorado, where his brother LaMarr played.

Basketball leftovers: Darnell Robinson, a 6-foot-11, 265-pound center from Emery High in Emeryville, Calif., signed with Arkansas on Nov. 18, the last day of the early signing period. Robinson, who averaged 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocked shots as a junior but whose questionable grades may make him a longshot for freshman eligibility, reportedly had favored Cal and St. Mary’s.