Recently in Shaun McClain Category

Redlands kicker/punter Shaun McClain, an all-CIF and all-Sun performer, has signed with Weber State after an official visit to the Ogden, Utah campus this past weekend according to his parents and Redlands assistant coach Kevin Haugh.

McClain chose Weber State over Montana State, who he had temporarily committed to around National Signing Day. He is the fourth Terrier to sign a letter of intent with a Division I school, joining linebacker Jordan Thomas (San Diego State), offensive lineman Justin Corrales (Bryant University) and linebacker Cole Gridley (Valparaiso).

Would have done this by yesterday, but a nasty cold threw me for a loss. I'm ready to go again though. With that, here's a complete breakdown of local Division I FBS (I-A) and FCS (I-AA) signees.

By school
1. Redlands 4; 2 tie. Colony 3, Colton 3, Los Osos 3, Rancho Cucamonga 3, Redlands East Valley 3; 7 tie. Arroyo Valley 2, Don Lugo 2, Hesperia 2, Kaiser 2, Serrano 2, Upland 2; 13 tie. Aquinas 1, Cajon 1, Chaffey 1, Granite Hills 1, Miller 1, Sultana 1.

Redlands was the surprising winner in this category, as three Terriers - OL Justin Corrales (Bryant University), LB Cole Gridley (Valparaiso) and K/P Shaun McClain (Weber State) were able to parlay strong senior seasons into FCS scholarships. LB Jordan Thomas (San Diego State) was the only FBS scholarship to Redlands, but the Terriers get props for getting their successful kids scholarships.

The teams with three scholarship players are among the usual suspects when it comes to getting kids to Division I scholarships, as REV, Colton, Colony, Rancho Cucamonga and Los Osos have seen an army of players get to the next level recently. REV, Colton and Los Osos all sent their players to FBS school, with each having at least one kid sign with a Pac-10 school. Rancho also had a Pac-10 kid in TE Randall Telfer (USC), while Colony had a Big 12 kid in DB Jered Bell (Colorado).

No real shocks in the 2 and 1 scholarship crowd except maybe Serrano, which had two FBS kids. The Diamondbacks are known for doing more with less, so its no shock that they made a CIF final with two FBS seniors on the roster.

By college:
1. San Diego State 4. 2 tie. Fresno State 3, Oregon 3, USC 3; 5 tie. Montana State 2, Sacramento State 2, San Jose State 2, UNLV 2, Utah 2, UTEP 2; 11 tie. Army 1, Bryant 1, Colorado 1, Iowa State 1, Kansas State 1, Nevada 1, Portland State 1, Prairie View A&M 1, San Diego 1, UCLA 1, Valparaiso 1, Washington 1, Washington State 1, Weber State 1.

On the non-BCS level, San Diego State and Fresno State continue to do work in the county. When Aztecs coach Brady Hoke was hired last year, he told recruits that he was going to put an emphasis on Inland Empire athletes. He's done exactly that, signing 3 SAL kids last year and four county kids this year in Thomas, Serrano DE Everett Beed, Hesperia WR Jay Waddell and Granite Hills TE Bryce Quigley. A fifth, Serrano RB Dionza Bradford, verbally committed to San Diego State before backing out and going with UNLV. So Hoke is getting things done.

Pat Hill has consistently brought local talent into the fold and this year is no different, with Los Osos WR Sean Alston, Arroyo Valley LB Ofa Fifita and Rancho Cucamonga QB Greg Watson all inking with the Bulldogs. Montana State also was a big player in the FCS ranks, getting guys with FBS interest in Don Lugo DB Steve Bethley and Miller RB David Dash.

As far as the Pac-10 goes, 2010 saw a reversal from 2009. Last year, it was UCLA and Oregon State that cleaned up, while this year saw their rivals have success. The Trojans, despite a coaching change, got Kaiser RB/DB Anthony Brown, Telfer and the county's highest-ranked recruit, Don Lugo DT George Uko, to sign. Only an 11th-hour stunner by Kaiser LB Josh Shirley kept UCLA from being swept out of the county.

As for the Oregon schools, the Ducks got two extremely productive defensive players in Los Osos DE Tony Washington and Colton DB Derrick Malone and stole Colton K Alejandro Maldonado from Washington on the last weekend. Last year, it was Oregon State that did damage, with Freshman All-American OL Michael Philipp from Arroyo Valley being the crown jewel.

As far as out-of-region teams, I guess the big winner would be the Big 12 North. Colorado (Colony DB Jered Bell), Iowa State (Hesperia/Chaffey College TE Ricky Howard) and Kansas State (Sultana/Mt. SAC OL Manase Foketi) all signed area players while Nebraska courted several local players as well.

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.

When looking back on Redlands' 5-6 season a year ago, its easy to think of what might have been. While the Terriers finished below .500 for the second straight season, it was a play or two away from changing the result in five of those six games.

Except for a 31-7 loss to eventual Citrus Belt League champion Miller, a senior-laded Redlands team was in every other game. A three-point loss to Vista Murrieta, an eight-point defeat to Clovis East, a seven-point loss to Los Angeles Carson, a two-point loss to crosstown rival Redlands East Valley and a three-point playoff loss to Riverside North all could have gone the other way, leaving the Terriers - one of the CBL favorites a year ago - wondering what might have been.