Falcons Select Klein : Pro football: Former local quarterback who left Cal for C.W. Post is drafted in fourth round.

Perry Klein, who seemed to have little chance of playing professionally after transferring from California to tiny C.W. Post for his senior season, was selected by the Atlanta Falcons on Monday in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

The former All-City quarterback from Palisades and Carson high schools was the 111th player selected. Heath Shuler of Tennessee and Trent Dilfer of Fresno State, both among the top six picks, were the only quarterbacks taken before Klein. Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward of Florida State was not picked.

“It’s funny how things work out sometimes,” said Klein, who left Cal after three seasons as a backup before enjoying a record-breaking senior season at C.W. Post in Brookville, N.Y.

“People thought it was stupid for me to leave Cal, but I felt like the situation at Cal was a dead-end situation for me. I was really confident about my ability, but we had a coaching change (Keith Gilbertson replaced Bruce Snyder before Klein’s junior season) and they wanted to go with a younger player (then-sophomore Dave Barr), and I got caught in that.

“It became a bad situation for me. I had to go somewhere where it was going to work, so that’s what I did. And it turned out well.”

Klein, 6 feet 3 and 210 pounds, passed for 3,757 yards and accounted for 4,052 yards in total offense last season, both NCAA Division II records, leading C.W. Post to a 9-1 record and attracting the attention of NFL scouts.

The Falcons, who use a run-and-shoot offense, liked Klein’s ability in running a similar attack at C.W. Post.

“He played in a spread-type offense, which makes him a natural for us,” Falcon Coach June Jones told the Atlanta Journal and Constitution. “Believe me, the guy can throw it. In high school, he completed 46 of 49 once and, (speaking) as a former quarterback, you don’t do that even throwing against air most days.”

Klein, whose family lives in Malibu, worked out for Jones and assistant Mouse Davis, who coaches the Falcons’ quarterbacks, on April 18 at Santa Monica College.

“I would compare him favorably to (Ram quarterback) Chris Miller,” Jones said. “He’s got the same kind of physical tools. He’s very accurate. He can stand in. I think the thing that gives him the edge over some of the other guys we looked at is his mobility. This is a guy who can pull it down and make something happen.”

Klein is thought to have a good chance to make the Falcons’ roster as the No. 3 quarterback because of salary-cap limitations. Starter Jeff George, acquired in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts, will earn about $2 million next season and backup Bobby Hebert will earn about $1 million.

Klein was among several players with Southland ties taken on the second day of the NFL draft.

Others included:

Defensive back Eric Zomalt of Cal, a former Moreno Valley Canyon Springs High standout who was selected in the third round by the Philadelphia Eagles; wide receiver Tudus Winans of Fresno State, a former Carson High player, on the third round by the Washington Redskins; tight end Brad Banta of USC, picked by the Colts in the fourth round; offensive guard Craig Novitsky and defensive back Marvin Goodwin of UCLA, taken in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints and the Eagles, respectively.