Recently in Tyler Ervin Category

Colton all-CIF offensive/defensive lineman John Taylor committed to Sacramento State last night, according to a text message received today by Colton coach Rick Bray. Taylor is the third Yellowjacket to commit to a Division I school, joining linebacker Rodney Hardrick (Oregon) and RB/DB Tyler Ervin (San Jose State). All three players will sign their letters of intent at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday in the Whitmore Auditorium on campus as part of National Signing Day.

Other signing ceremonies that have been announced are Summit's Devon Blackmon, who will sign with Oregon at 11:44 a.m. in classroom G101 on the Summit campus and Redlands' Jordan Smith, who will sign with San Diego State in a ceremony at Dodge Field at 12:30 p.m.

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.

With the high school football season in high gear, recruiting of local athletes is starting to pick up as well. That's definitely the case at Colton High School, as several Yellowjackets are jumping headfirst into the recruiting process.

Star running back Tyler Ervin and linebacker/tight end Rodney Hardrick made unofficial visits to Arizona State and Boise State this weekend. Ervin went to check out the Oregon-Arizona State, while Hardrick flew up to see the Oregon State-Boise State clash.
"Rodney was taking care of two birds with one stone, as he's looking at both of those schools," Colton coach Rick Bray said. "It's an exciting time for all of these kids."

Another Yellowjacket receiving a large amount of interest is Devan Hussey, who is being pursued by several Ivy League schools. The University of Colorado has also been around the Colton campus a lot recently according to Bray.

A new wrinkle we added this year, the preseason all-area team wasn't very easy to put together. But I'm sure these guys will make me look somewhat smart.

OFFENSE
QB - Thomas Carter, Sr., Cajon
RB - Dillon Pretzinger, Sr., Rim of the World
RB - Jeremiah Armstead, Sr., Oak Hills
RB - Tyler Ervin, Sr., Colton
WR - Paul Pitts, Sr., Los Osos
WR - Angel Rivera, Sr., Arroyo Valley
TE - Rodney Hardrick, Sr., Colton
OL - Jamal Prater, Sr., Etiwanda
OL - Jordan Smith, Sr., Redlands
OL - Hector Sotelo, Sr., Serrano
OL - Gary Dixon, Sr., Summit
OL - Jesus Cortez, Sr., Chaffey
Util - Devon Blackmon, Sr., Summit
K - Cody Madsen, Sr., Redlands East Valley

DEFENSE
DL - Ethan Hillyer, Sr., Serrano
DL - John Siliga, Sr., Redlands
DL - Devon Lewis, Sr., Redlands East Valley
DL - Kyle Jerkins, Sr., Apple Valley
LB - Devan Hussey, Sr., Colton
LB - Dennis Taylor, Sr., Kaiser
LB - Jamal Wilson, Sr., Miller
LB - Jimmy Musgrave, Sr., Silverado
DB - Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Sr., Chino Hills
DB - Josh Armstrong, Sr., Redlands East Valley
DB - Desman Carter, Sr., Kaiser
DB - Demontae Kazee, Jr., Cajon
Util - Sateki Finau, Sr., Rancho Cucamonga
P - Jake Van Ginkel, Sr., Upland

On the surface, it won't seem like much has changed as far as Colton High School football is concerned. The Yellowjackets will still run their double-wing offense, using a physical running game and an assortment of athletic playmakers on defense to great success. But they'll have a new guy overseeing that.

Longtime assistant Rick Bray, who has served as an assistant at Colton 21 of the last 25 season - the last 11 with Harold Strauss, is the new guy in charge of the Yellowjackets, taking the place of the legendary coach in the spring. And while Strauss - who is now concentrating full-time on his role as Colton's athletic director - will not be on the sideline, his influence will remain.

"I'm not going to change much, because there's really not much to be changed," Bray said. "Things worked pretty well here. We'll do some tinkering here and there, but Harold had this running pretty well."