National Signing Day came and left Wednesday for Orange County football, but the college recruiting process continues at powerhouses such as Mater Dei and small-school contenders like Capistrano Valley Christian.
Case in point: Ben Sukut.
OCVarsity’s first list of the Top 16 recruits to watch in the class of 2016 includes the Capistrano Valley Christian safety along with Mater Dei’s Frank Martin (6-foot-6, 295 pounds), Curtis Robinson (6-3, 225) and Andre Collins (6-5, 190).
Sukut (6-2, 190) holds scholarship offers from BYU, San Diego State and Arkansas State and has been visited recently by coaches from Oregon, Washington State, Colorado and Duke, Eagles coach Eric Preszler said.
“Sounds like Washington State will be the first of that group to pull the trigger (with an offer),” Preszler said.
NEXT-LEVEL RECRUITS
Here is a list of juniors who also were considered for the OCVarsity Top 16 for 2016: WR/DB Lance Vecchio of Villa Park, DB Darian Conray of Los Alamitos, LB Samuel Duarte of Servite, OL Zach Aguirre of Mater Dei, OL Logan Bathke of Orange Lutheran, RB Edward Vander of JSerra, WR Garrett White of Edison, DL Carter Hartman of Mission Viejo and WR/DB Isaiah Diego-Williams of JSerra.
Orange Lutheran junior Jerry Fitschen might be the county’s top kicking recruit in 2016. Mission Viejo junior Jared Rumsey is a top long snapper.
MATER DEI UPDATES
Collins, a receiver, is “progressing very well” in his recovery from a broken ankle suffered last season against St. John Bosco, Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said. But the veteran coach said he will be “very cautious” with Collins in his return.
Rollinson said Robinson’s recent offers include USC and Michigan. Sophomore cornerback Jalen Cole (5-8, 165) has been offered by Colorado State.
MORE SOPHOMORE OFFERS
San Clemente sophomore running back Brandon Reaves (5-10, 175) has been offered by Colorado State, Tritons coach Jaime Ortiz said.
Servite sophomore wide receiver Terrell Bynum (6-1, 174) has been offered by Washington State, Friars senior corner Maurice Davison said.
The county’s top sophomore recruit might be Servite receiver Osiris St. Brown (6-1, 178), who has offers from Notre Dame, Illinois, Washington State, Texas Tech and Utah.
YEAR OF THE RECEIVER?
California’s class of 2015 was hailed as the year of the quarterback, and 2016 could be the year of the receiver.
Santa Margarita wideout Dylan Crawford (6-1, 185), a recent transfer from St. Francis of La Canada, ranks as one of the best in a deep Southern California group that includes Centennial of Corona’s Javon McKinley (6-2, 195) and Bishop Amat’s Tyler Vaughns (6-2, 185).
“He’s really good,” Greg Biggins, of Scout.com and Fox Sports, said of Crawford.
Other top O.C. receivers to watch: Garrett White (Edison) and Noah Rasheed (Santa Margarita).
CAMP UPDATES
The Nike Football Training Camps have been renamed the Nike Football Opening Regionals. The regional circuit will hold a camp at Redondo Union High on March 8. Rivals will host a regional camp May 10 at Fullerton College.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
