COMMUNITY COLLEGES / MITCH POLIN : Terrell Catching On as El Camino’s Tight End

At Serra High, Damon Terrell believed he had the talent to play professional baseball. He worked on his game with hopes of being drafted by a major league team in 1991.

When his name wasn’t called, Terrell decided to enroll at El Camino College, where he continued to pursue his dream. He was an outfielder and first baseman for the Warriors and batted close to .300.

But when he was bypassed in the 1992 draft, Terrell decided enough was enough. He would concentrate on football.

Terrell, who will turn 20 Sunday, hasn’t looked back.

His rapid development has made him one of the premier tight ends in the community college ranks.

How good is he?

“A lot of people think he’s the best tight end in the country,” El Camino Coach John Featherstone said. “That’s why every (NCAA) Division I program in the country is recruiting him.”

Well, not every Division I school. Just many of the top programs such as Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, Washington State and Kansas.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Terrell, who was named to the preseason All-America second team by J.C. Grid-Wire and the all-state first team by Cal-Hi Sports, has lived up to his lofty billing.

He ranks among Mission Conference leaders with 28 receptions for 441 yards--an average of 15.8 yards a reception--and is El Camino’s top receiver.

“He’s probably the most talented tight end ever to play at this school,” Featherstone said. “He’s only played tight end for about three years. He played in high school, but he was a blocking tight end.”

Terrell said he never caught a pass in a high school game. That has changed at El Camino.

“He’s got a nice feel for the game,” Featherstone said. “He’s got big, soft hands and he’s very effective once he catches the football. But he’s not just a receiver. He’s also an effective blocker.”

Terrell’s versatility has increased his stock among college recruiters.

“He’s not the best blocker (in the community college ranks) and he may not be the best pass receiver, but he’s the best combination of both,” said Gene Simon, who coaches El Camino’s receivers.

Because of his inexperience at the position, Warrior coaches believe Terrell can develop into a big-time player at a four-year program.

“I feel I have a lot of talent from what people tell me,” he said. “It’s just a case of going out on the field and showing it.”

Simon said the only person who can stop Terrell is himself.

“He needs to focus more and he needs to lift weights and become stronger,” Simon said. “I think he can play at 235 (pounds) at the next level. He just needs to work at it. He’s got a gift and he just has to let it come out.”

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Although Harbor cannot compete in a bowl game because it was placed on probation by the Western State Conference, the Seahawks have a new set of goals.

First and foremost is a strong finish to the season. The Seahawks compete in Southern Division games from here on out, beginning with Saturday’s game against Compton.

“This is our first division game, so hopefully that will mean something,” Coach Don Weems said. “Our goal now is to win the division and that’s what we’re aiming at.”

The Seahawks (2-3) also have a chance of finishing above .500 for the second consecutive year.

For Harbor to accomplish its goals, it must overcome injuries to several key players.

Most prominent is linebacker Tyrone Coleman, who sprained a knee in Saturday’s game against Santa Monica and is expected to be out two to three weeks.

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Dion Mills update: The freshman receiver from Harbor, who was charged with one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly striking a Pierce assistant coach over the head with a metal crutch during the postgame brawl between the teams Sept. 25, had his arraignment postponed until next month.

Mills, 19, will be arraigned in San Pedro Municipal Court on Nov. 10 and a court date is expected to be set for late November, a court official said.

The arraignment was postponed because Mills’ attorney, Walter Urban, had a time conflict with another case.

Mills, who was suspended from the team after the incident, is free on $35,000 bail.

Notes

The injury-plagued El Camino football team has lost two more starters because of injuries. Offensive lineman Erik Donnelly is out for the season because of a knee injury suffered in the team’s 37-35 loss to Grossmont last week and defensive back Alex Hairston is out indefinitely because of an infected shin. . . . The El Camino women’s soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the state with a 10-0-2 record. The Warriors, the only undefeated team in the state, have been led on offense by forward November Wallace, who has seven goals and five assists. El Camino visits Oxnard in a South Coast Conference match at 2 p.m. today.