Brady Will Fill Big Sky Again

Spring football practice concluded last week for Cal State Northridge, and few surprises or drastic changes are in store for the Matadors next season.

The four-week tune-up provided quarterback Marcus Brady, the Matadors’ marquee player the last two seasons, an opportunity to sharpen his spirals and hone timing routs with receivers.

Northridge, 5-6 last season and fifth in the Big Sky Conference at 4-4, has been among the conference’s most explosive offenses under Brady and that won’t likely change in the Matadors’ final season in the Big Sky.

Brady, who passed for a career-best 3,326 yards as a sophomore, will have ample targets, despite the loss of Aaron Arnold, Northridge’s career receiving leader.

Drew Amerson, Gil Rodriguez and Joe Gilliam combined for 124 receptions last season, including a team-high 71 by Amerson.

Gilliam, who had 25 receptions as a freshman, is expected to pick up the slack in place of Arnold.

At running back, Alan Taylor, who rushed for 133 yards last season, returns as the most experienced ballcarrier and front-runner to replace Jaumal Bradley as the Matadors’ top ballcarrier.

Taylor, a 5-foot-7, 175-pound back with an elusive style, will be complemented by Bruce Mollock (5-9, 190) and fullback Crayton Milton (6-0, 260).

Coach Jeff Kearin said the Matadors will increase the fullback’s role this season, capitalizing on Milton’s bruising, straight-ahead style.

“The running backs kind of played like we thought they would,” Kearin said. “Crayton Milton was the biggest surprise running the ball.”

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The Northridge defense will have several new facemasks.

Defensive end Ramsey Venner, a 6-6, 250-pound transfer from Fresno State, is a dominating talent who might emerge as the defensive spearhead. Venner, who left Fresno State after three games last season, is joined by defensive lineman Jason Nicastro in what will be an improved front seven, defensive coordinator Foster Andersen said.

“I think [Venner] is going to be a very good addition to us, Andersen said. “He makes us better.”

Gone is linebacker Brennen Swanson, an all-conference linebacker and finalist for the Buchanan Award last season. But returning players Cos Abercrombie and Lewis Blanton are markedly improved, Kearin said.

A shake-up in the secondary is the biggest question mark for the Matadors. Cornerbacks Chazz Moore and Mel Miller, and safeties Steve Forte and Rahman Sparks are gone.

However, Hassan Abdul-Malik, who redshirted last season because of a hamstring injury, and Bryson Atkins, will return.

“They’re young, but I think they’re going to be really good,” Andersen said.

Safety Jeremy Golden, ineligible last season after leading Northridge in tackles in 1998, isn’t likely to return, Kearin said.

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The Northridge baseball team opens a three-game series at Missouri on Friday. The Matadors (15-24) have won three of their last four games, taking two of three from UCLA last weekend.

For Northridge, victories over UCLA are nothing new. Northridge is 6-1-1 against the Bruins since 1995.

Freshman Aaron McKenzie is the hottest hitter down the stretch for Northridge.

McKenzie, from Righetti High, had a game-tying two-run home run with two out Sunday in a 12-9 victory over UCLA. McKenzie leads Northridge with a .383 batting average and .642 slugging percentage. He is second on the team with five home runs.