Ohio State Scores Top Passing Mark

Rose Bowl winner Ohio State continued its success by landing two prized Southern California quarterbacks Wednesday on the first day of the football signing period.

The Buckeyes signed Austin Moherman of Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley High and David Priestly of Cypress Brethren Christian. Moherman, who attended three high schools in four years, passed for 1,705 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Priestly threw for 1,864 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Ohio State also hopes to sign wide receiver Ken-Yon Rambo, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior who set every career and single-season receiving record at Long Beach Poly.

Rambo, regarded as one of the nation’s top receivers, will delay his decision for at least a week. USC also is in the running for Rambo, whose cousin, Gene Washington, was a four-time Pro Bowl receiver with the San Francisco 49ers.

“I’ve been discussing this with my father for about three years,” Rambo said. “What’s another week or month? I don’t want to be pressured.”

The signing period ends April 1, but most recruits made their decisions known early. Rambo said he is not worried about losing a scholarship to another recruit.

Ohio State was not the only school to come to California looking for quarterback help. In addition, Texas, Colorado and Washington did well.

But the most coveted quarterback chose to stay in California.

Randy Fasani of Loomis High in Del Oro, considered the nation’s No. 1 prospect by SuperPrep and PrepStar magazines, signed with Stanford. Camarillo quarterback Joe Borchard also accepted a scholarship to Stanford.

Leading the quarterback migration are Burroughs’ J.K. Scott (Washington), Temecula Valley’s Spencer Brinton (San Diego State), Anaheim Servite’s Greg Cicero (Texas), Irvine’s Jared Flint (Indiana), San Clemente’s Chris Hayward (Nevada Las Vegas), Beverly Hills’ Moacir Jones (Nevada), and Santa Ana Mater Dei’s Nick Stremick (Oregon State).

Anaheim Esperanza quarterback David Parrish will sign a baseball scholarship with Michigan, but also will get a chance to compete for the football team.

While traditional football powers Hart, La Puente Bishop Amat, Servite, Capistrano Valley, Carson, Long Beach Poly and Mater Dei continue to churn out blue-chip prospects, Gardena Serra had at least four players gain Division I scholarships for the third consecutive year.

Cornerback Kris Richard (USC), receiver-defensive back Charles Nash Jr. (Arizona), and offensive tackles Damion Tinsley (Stanford) and B.J. Long (New Mexico) received scholarships from the 430-student parochial school.

Colorado fared well locally, landing 10 California prospects. The Buffaloes signed center Mike Wambolt of Hart, running back Damion Barton of Corona Centennial, free safety Albus Brooks of Claremont, quarterback-defensive back Zimbalist Carter of Riverside Poly, defensive end Johnny Jackson of San Diego Augustine, linebacker Scott Nemeth of Aliso Niguel, and defensive back Nate Wright Jr. of San Diego Point Loma, whose father played with the Minnesota Vikings.

Other top Southland players to sign outside California include: Sylmar linebacker Derrell Daniels (Washington), Mater Dei High receiver David Castleton (Brigham Young), Servite offensive lineman Zach LaMonda (San Diego State), Carson tailback Patrick McCall (Michigan), Beverly Hills receiver Brandon Nash (Arizona), Newport Harbor receiver Danny Pulido (Oregon), La Palma Kennedy defensive back Garrett Sabol (Oregon), El Toro receiver Murle Sango (Villanova), Westchester defensive lineman Larry Tripplett (Washington), Servite offensive lineman Kurt Vollers (Notre Dame), Servite receiver Stephen Ward (Villanova) and Carson linebacker Jamaun Willis (Carson).

Staff writers Earl Gustkey, Paige Leech, Paul McLeod, John Ortega and correspondent Michael Itagaki contributed to this story.