He Proves That Fame Is Relative : Pro football: Klein, a former L.A. prep star who left Cal for tiny C.W. Post, is drafted in fourth round.

By JERRY CROWE

April 26, 1994 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Perry Klein, who seemed to have little chance of playing in the NFL 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 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.

“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 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.

Southland Selections

Players from Southland schools who were taken in the NFL draft (overall number selected and team, with position, school):

4. New England

* Willie McGinest, DE, USC

10. Arizona

* Jamir Miller, LB, UCLA

17. Pittsburgh

* Charles Johnson, WR, Colorado (Cajon HS)

21. Detroit

* Johnnie Morton, WR, USC

37. Philadelphia

* Bruce Walker, DT, UCLA