Recently in San Jose State Category

Colton senior running back/defensive back Tyler Ervin made a verbal commitment to San Jose State this weekend on an official visit to the school, according to a text message I just received from Colton head coach Rick Bray. Ervin was a first-team all-Sun selection this past season, rushing for 1,436 yards and 13 touchdowns offensively while accumulating 34 tackles and three interceptions on defense.

The 5-foot-10, 167-pound Ervin chose the Spartans over offers from Utah State, Hawaii and Nevada. He becomes the second Yellowjacket to commit to a Division I-FBS school, joining tight end/linebacker Rodney Hardrick, who committed to Oregon.

After a banner postseason in which he ran for nearly 800 yards and eight touchdowns en route to helping his team to a CIF-SS Central Division title, Colton running back/defensive back Tyler Ervin.is getting more attention on the recruiting trail.

Ervin, a first-team all-Sun utility player, has recently picked up offers from Wyoming and San Jose State to go along with previous offers from Nevada and Utah State. Ervin has a couple of official visits planned, as he's heading to Nevada on Jan. 14 and Utah State on Jan. 21.

"Everyone is even right now," Ervin said. "I'll know some more after I take some visits and see what everyone has to offer."

Ervin is also talking to UCLA and Arizona State, although neither school has offered. He indicated that those schools would vault to the top with an offer.

Got off the phone with Redlands athletic director Ken Morse a couple minutes ago and he indicated that the Terriers will hold their Signing Day ceremony at 12:30 p.m. today. Expected to sign are LB Jordan Thomas (San Diego State), LB Cole Gridley (Valparaiso), K Shaun McClain (Montana State) and OL Justin Corrales (Bryant University). Morse wasn't 100 percent on Corrales' school of choice though.

Also, Arroyo Valley will hold its signing ceremony as part of a senior assembly at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. The signees, LB Ofa Fifita (Fresno State) and WR Damon Ogburn (San Jose State), will send in their letters of intent today.

Sitting in the Redlands East Valley gym right now after attending the Wildcats' National Signing Day ceremony, which saw DE Andrew Hudson sign with Washington, QB Tyler Shreve ink with Utah, OL David Peterson sign with San Jose State and RB A.J. Fernandez and LB Dillon Curley sign with Northwestern College out of the NAIA.

Arroyo Valley wide receiver Damon Ogburn, who committed to Idaho State after officially visiting the campus this past weekend, has reversed field and committed to San Jose State according to AVHS head coach Marcus Soward.

Ogburn's switch was based on logisitics, as he felt that San Jose State gave him better access to his family in San Bernardino.

"San Jose is about a five-hour drive to San Bernardino and that was the biggest factor," Soward said. "He thought about it and felt that Idaho State was a little too far away from his family."

Ogburn joins DE Keenan Brown, who signed with the Spartans two years ago, as Arroyo Valley players who have gone off to San Jose State. Brown's tale was similar, as he was committed to Utah State before switching to the Spartans in the 11th hour.

Arroyo Valley will have a ceremony for Ogburn and LB Ofa Fifita, who committed to Fresno State, Thursday as part of its senior assembly. Both players will fax their letters of intent to schools tomorrow though.

Been working the phones a bit this morning and got information on a few signing-day press conferences. Redlands East Valley will be holding its press conference at the crack of dawn Wednesday, with a 7 a.m. signing with DE Andrew Hudson (Washington), QB Tyler Shreve (Utah) and OL David Peterson (San Jose State) set to be in REV's football office.

Serrano will be holding its signing at 10:30 a.m. in the performing arts room on campus. Set to sign are DE Everett Beed (San Diego State) and RB Dionza Bradford (UNLV), along with a few soccer players according to athletic director Ray Maholchic.

Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley will be at the FOX studios in Los Angeles for his announcement Wednesday. While the exact time of the announcement hasn't been set yet, Shirley was told to be at the studios at 11 a.m. according to a text he sent me. Shirley is deciding between USC, Miami (Fla), Washington and Arizona.

A day after Tyler Shreve committed to Utah, Redlands East Valley offensive lineman David Peterson committed to San Jose State according to scout.com. Peterson was a first-team all-CIF and all-Sun selection and a three-year starter for the Wildcats, playing primarily at center this year.

With the fall signing period coming up next month, basketball recruiting is starting to pick up. Three county players have made verbal commitments to Division I schools.

Ayala senior Rhema Gardner verbally committed to UCLA earlier this week according to ESPN.com, joining her older sister and former All-Sun first-team selection Rebekah Gardner. The 6-foot-2 Gardner averaged 12.9 points and 11.1 rebounds for the Bulldogs last season.

Chino Hills guard Derek Brown also made his choice according to Scout.com and picked San Jose State after an official visit last month. Brown, a 6-foot-2 senior, won Sierra League MVP honors by averaging 16.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

But it wasn't just seniors who committed this week. Etiwanda junior swingman Byron Wesley, an all-Sun first-team selection at Cajon last year, committed to USC according to Rivals.com. The 6-foot-5 Wesley averaged 18.7 points and 7.4 rebounds as a sophomore.

A couple of former Inland Valley standouts saw their names called in the NFL Draft Sunday, one fairly early this morning and one just about 10-15 minutes ago.

San Jose State defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, a Chino High School graduate, was picked by the Chicago Bears with the fourth selection of the third round (68th overall). Gilbert, who can play both end and tackle, was the Bears' first selection of the 2009 Draft and the second Chino grad to be picked in the last two years - joining defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, the first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints a year ago.

California tight end Cameron Morrah, a Claremont High School graduate, was recently picked by the Seattle Seahawks with the 39th pick in the seventh round (248th overall). Morrah, the ninth-to-last selection, was the second Baseline League alum to be drafted this season, along with Rancho Cucamonga's Patrick Chung, and the fifth to be drafted in the last three years (Morrah, Chung, Rancho Cucamonga's Gerald Alexander, Rancho Cucamonga's Terrell Thomas and Alta Loma's Eric Weddle).

Not drafted today, but likely to be signed as a rookie free agent, is Boise State running back Ian Johnson, a Damien graduate. Johnson, a native of San Dimas, is most famous for scoring the winning 2-point conversion in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma and proposing to Boise State cheerleader Chrissy Popadics on national television after the postgame interview.