Oakland Tribune: Pair from Mack, MV at top of Cal's list

Hill, Costanzo among 13 preps expected to sign letters of intent today

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

BERKELEY — McClymonds High football coach Alonzo Carter can't wait to watch Derrick Hill at the next level. Monte Vista High coach Craig Bergman feels the same way about Mike Costanzo.  Both coaches will have a short trip, Carter from Oakland, and Bergman a slightly longer journey from Danville.  Hill and Costanzo, two talented defensive line prospects, have verbally committed to Cal and are expected to sign national letter of intents today to play for coach Jeff Tedford.  Hill and Costanzo are among Cal's latest high school recruiting class, expected to number 13. Today is the first day that national football letters can be signed by preps.  "Derrick is a rare big guy," Carter said of the 6-foot-2, 280-pound Hill. "Most big guys aren't self-motivated, Derrick's not like that. He's high-motor, a high work ethic. He gives 100 percent. He loves to practice."  Hill played most of the 2005 season with a torn knee meniscus, without his tellingCarter. Getting Hill to leave the field wasn't easy.  "He played both sides of the ball and dominated," Carter said. "He has a nastiness on him in football. He's real physical, and he loves contact. He gets up the field. He's so explosive for his age."

The 6-2, 290-pound Costanzo also played both ways for Monte Vista, but Bergman believes he's best suited for defense.  "He's extremely tenacious, gets off the ball well, a very strong kid," Bergman said. "He's the kind of player you build a team around. He'll do anything you ask him to. It's tough to play as a freshman, but I think he will. It's nice to get two defensive tackles from the same area."  Hill is rated No. 9 and Costanzo No. 18 nationally among defensive tackles by one recruiting service. Cal's highest rated potential signee is Darian Hagan, a 5-11, 175-pounder from Crenshaw in Los Angeles, who's No. 5 among the nation's cornerbacks.  Seven offensive players have orally committed to Cal: quarterback Kevin Riley, 6-2, 185, from Beaverton, Ore.; running backs James Montgomery, 5-10, 195, from Cordova, Tracy Slocum, 5-10, 195, from Clovis East, and R.J. Garrett, 6-0, 230, from Crenshaw; wide receiver Daniel Lofton, 6-1[1/2—, 190, from Westview in San Diego; linemen Chris Guarnero, 6-2[1/2—, 266, from Mullen in Denver, Colo., and Justin Prueitt, 6-5, 275, from Buchanan in Clovis.   Tedford has received verbal commitments from six defensive players: Hill, Costanzo, Hagan, tackle Isaac Leatiota, 6-4, 290, from Wilcox in San Jose, end Keith Browner, 6-6, 240, from Dorsey in Los Angeles, and cornerback Charles Amadi, 5-11, 180, from Edison in Fresno.

Cal has signed four junior college players: punter Andrew Larson, 6-0, 180, from Saddleback in Mission Viejo; defensive end Rulon Davis, 6-6, 275, from Mt. San Antonio in Walnut; and offensive linemen Mike Gibson, 6-5, 305, from Solano in Suisun City, and Mark Gray, 6-1, 280, from El Camino in Torrance.