COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITING : OTHER SCHOOLS : California Isn’t Place to Be for All

James Sherman is among the strongest high school football players on the West Coast. The Whittier High senior bench presses 430 pounds and squats 650.

His strength and size--6 feet 3 and 260 pounds--impressed recruiters from across the nation, including those at USC and UCLA. But like many top local prospects, Sherman, a two-way lineman, decided to go out of state. He signed a letter of intent with Nebraska on Wednesday, the beginning of the signing period.

“I took unofficial visits to USC and UCLA, but after my trip to Nebraska I knew that was where I wanted to be,” said Sherman, who did not begin playing football until he was a junior.

“I was impressed with Nebraska’s graduation rate among football players and how nice the people were.”

Sherman canceled all of his other visits after returning from Nebraska on Dec. 11 and told Coach Tom Osborne he had made up his mind.

“I didn’t see any sense in prolonging my decision,” Sherman said. “It’s a long way from home, but it’s where I want to be. Winning the national championship reinforced my choice all the more.”

Another top local prospect, highly touted running back Sirr Parker of Locke, will go to Texas A&M;, spurning offers from USC, Notre Dame and Washington. He told teammates and friends at the school Wednesday that he welcomed the opportunity to play right away. “The chance to get noticed by professional scouts is good there, so it felt right,” Parker said.

At La Puente Bishop Amat, linebacker Kory Minor helped Notre Dame complete what some are calling the nation’s finest recruiting class. The 6-2, 225-pound senior was regarded as the area’s No. 2 recruit, behind teammate Daylon McCutcheon.

McCutcheon, The Times’ player of the year, is still undecided and said he plans to announce his decision Saturday night at the team’s annual banquet. The 5-10, 175-pound running back and defensive back is considering USC, Colorado and Washington.

Running back Ricky Williams of Patrick Henry in San Diego is also headed out of state. Williams, 6-1 and 210 pounds, considered USC before signing with Texas. He will be joined there by defensive back Anton Hector of Anaheim Esperanza.

Steve Wofford of Bakersfield, who led the state in rushing with 2,766 yards and 43 touchdowns, signed with California but still needs a qualifying score on the college entrance exam.