Charles Wright had left school for the day when he received a surprising summons from Beckman football coach Glen Fisher.
A coach from a school in the mighty Southeastern Conference wanted to talk to Wright.
The school: Vanderbilt.
With just nine days remaining before National Signing Day, Wright was stunned.
“Wow,” the senior defensive end thought. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
Wright (6-foot-3, 220pounds) had upheld his commitment to San Jose State since the summer, but Vanderbilt sent offensive coordinator Karl Dorrell, the former UCLA coach, to check in with Wright.
The late discussion paid off for Vanderbilt and Wright, who Wednesday signed a letter of intent with the school to cap one of the most dramatic stories of the recruiting season.
“It’s over. It’s over,” Wright said after a signing day ceremony at Beckman with his family and teammates.
“It’s a very stressful process and I’m glad it’s over.”
Wright appeared bound for San Jose State before Dorrell arrived at Beckman on Jan. 27.
Wright later learned former San Jose State defensive coordinator Kenwick Thompson, who recently left the Spartans for an assistant coaching position at Vanderbilt, put in a good word for Wright at the SEC school.
Vanderbilt retooled its staff after hiring Stanford defensive coordinator Derek Mason as its coach to replace James Franklin, who left for Penn State.
After the Commodores expressed interest in Wright, he and his father, Ryan, made an official visit last weekend to the campus in Nashville, Tenn.
And with not much room to spare before National Signing Day, Wright flipped his commitment to Vanderbilt.
“It’s exciting: big boy football,” he said of the SEC.
“Not only is the competition good, but the school is known for its academics, and academics are what drew me to it even more.”
Wright’s 11th-hour maneuvering isn’t the only example of his flexibility. He played for a few different head coaches at Beckman and projects to play linebacker — not defensive end — at Vanderbilt.
But he also knows how to endure. Wright’s sophomore season was wiped out by a broken leg in a season-opening game against Foothill.
And as a senior, he racked up eight sacks and was selected All-CIF despite Beckman missing the playoffs.
“It’s an up-and-down struggle, but I know through those downs there are going to be ups, so I just kept fighting and kept my head on straight,” he said.
Wright’s father, Ryan, has always been impressed by his son’s determination
“When he makes up his mind that he wants to go do something, he’s going to put all his effort into it,” Ryan Wright said. “He’s always focused on trying to make the best out of what is in front of him and dealing with adversity.”
And on Wednesday, the proof was in Wright’s signature.
SPECIAL SENTINTEL
Magnolia’s seniors filled half the gym during a ceremony for Arizona State-bound safety Jamal Scott, the school’s first scholarship football player in 16 years, Coach Ryan Olson said.
Olson and Principal Robert Cunard thanked the school staff for supporting Scott (6-3, 205) and praised the senior for his dedication in the classroom.
“Congrats, you are one of our heroes,” Cunard told Scott.
Cunard and Olson noted the support of Magnolia boys basketball and track coach Matt Tweed, who drove Scott to his unofficial visits to Arizona State, and athletic trainer, Sabina Giakoumis, who helped Scott through an injury.
The heart-felt ceremony was topped when equipment man Jim “Burly” Burleson gave Scott a hug.
Olson said Magnolia’s last scholarship football player was former county athlete of the year, Asi Faoa, who with UCLA.
EMOTIONAL NEW TROJAN
Mater Dei cornerback and USC signee Jonathan Lockett said the best part of his day involved his family.
“Seeing my family smile and cry,” the Register defensive player of the year said in a text message.
Lockett was supported Wednesday by his parents, John and Cookie, and his brothers, Jace, 4, and Jalen, 13.
EUGENIO WATCH
Two-time first-team All-County selection Casey Eugenio (5-9, 180) of JSerra didn’t sign, but he picked up an offer from Air Force.
The running back/defensive back said Army also has shown interest, along with some small schools.
“Hopefully some bigger ones pull through,” he said in a text message.
VECCHIO DECIDES
Villa Park defensive end/tight end Louis Vecchio (6-3, 220), the county’s top ucommitted recruit entering Wednesday, signed with Penn. He picked the Ivy League contender over Stanford, which reportedly offered a preferred walk-on.
The senior told Prime Ticket/foxsportswest.com that he picked Penn because of “the opportunities.”
“The opportunities there are endless,” Vecchio said. “They will set me up with a great foundation and people that are really invested in me.”
– DAN ALBANO
OLD, NEW TECHNOLGY
Some signees became reacquainted with a word they had not heard for some time: fax.
St. Margaret’s quarterback Josh Davis, who signed with Lafayette, encountered the word when visiting the college’s website and after signing-day developments on Twitter.
“On Lafayette’s big Twitter feed it said, ‘Coach (Mickey) Fein’s fax machine is buzzing,’” Davis said.
“That was the first time I heard that phrase.”
Huntington Beach quarterback and Register offensive player of the year Kai Ross told his friends he faxed his letter of intent to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
“They said, ‘You’ve still got a fax machine?’” Ross said.
Meanwhile, Mater Dei water polo goalie McQuin Baron emailed his letter of intent to USC to his mother, Mindy, who sent it to Trojans coach Jovan Vavic.
Baron is in Hungary for a tournament with the U.S. national men’s team.
DAVIS INTRIGUED
Davis (6-2, 195) said he got a full scholarship from Lafayette, a school in Easton, Pa.
That and Fein, the college’s offensive coordinator, lured him.
“There’s something different about his approach compared to some other bigger schools,” Davis said. “He’s really special.
“And I have a chance to play right away as a freshman or, if not, as a sophomore once I get tuned into the system.”
Davis also received recruiting attention from UC Davis and a few Ivy League schools.
– STEVE FRYER
Contact the writers: dalbano@ocregister.com; sfryer@ocregister.com
