Matadors Are Packing in Transfers

Cal State Northridge soon might have former University of Washington cornerback Mel Miller in the fold.

Miller, a junior who started every game for the Huskies the last two seasons, quit the team earlier this week. He became upset after being suspended for Washington’s first three games this year.

The suspension, Washington Coach Jim Lambright said, was for academic reasons and not related to the arrest of Miller and two teammates by campus police April 20 after an alleged assault of a university student.

County prosecutors refused to file charges against Miller.

“He told me he was trying to pull people off [during the fight],” Northridge Coach Ron Ponciano said. “It was one of those guilty-by-association things.”

Miller, 5 feet 11 and 190 pounds, visited Northridge’s morning practice on Wednesday. The former South Torrance High standout made 42 tackles for the Huskies last year, sixth-best on the team.

“We are going through the proper channels to get him into school, the release papers [from Washington], all of that,” Ponciano said.

Miller would be the second former Pacific 10 player secured by the Matadors in the last two days. Mike Barnes, a guard at Arizona State in 1995-96, is expected in camp by the end of the week.

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Last year, it was the Henry brothers, wide receiver Jerome and cornerback Howard. Jerome graduated and Howard is a senior with the Matadors.

This season, the family matters at Northridge fall on brothers Erik and Isaac Gardner, and Armando Gonzalez and Anthony Ramos.

Erik is a 6-6 sophomore defensive end who is expected to start and Isaac is a 6-2 freshman linebacker. Both played at Seaside High and are happy to be reunited.

“It’s been pretty good so far,” Isaac said. “I’m still trying to earn a spot. I haven’t played with [Erik] since Pop Warner.”

Erik, who in January underwent surgery on his left rotator cuff, believed his brother would be signed by another school. But, much like his own case, it didn’t happen.

“Northridge was the only school that was seriously talking to me about playing,” Erik said. “All the other schools wanted me to walk on. They offered me a scholarship here right off the bat.”

Gonzalez, an undergraduate assistant, and Ramos, a transfer from Santa Barbara College, are half-brothers. They grew up together and are being reunited on a team for the first time since Ramos played at Dos Pueblos High in Santa Barbara from 1993-97 and Gonzalez was an assistant.

Ramos, a 5-9 receiver, transferred from Santa Barbara College, where he played quarterback and passed for 1,774 yards and 12 touchdowns last year.

“Coming [to Northridge] just happened to work out that way,” Ramos said. “[Armando] told me to do what was going to be the best decision for me.”

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Josh Hawkins, The Times’ Ventura County back of the year in 1994 after a stellar senior season at Nordhoff High, is academically ineligible.