By Cary Osborne
Signal Sports Editor
The chase is over. After 15 universities offered scholarships to Valencia High School running back Shane Vereen, the senior-to-be chose the University of California, Berkeley, Thursday. Vereen, who said in the past he would choose a school prior to the start of his senior season, kept his word and called Golden Bears head coach Jeff Tedford Thursday and gave his verbal commitment. "I called him and I said, 'If you're still interested,' trying to lighten the mood, 'I'd like to come to Cal and play for the Cal Bears.' And he said, 'Of course,'" Vereen said. The cream of the crop of West Coast football programs offered Vereen scholarships, most notably the University of Southern California. Vereen said it was tough to turn down every offer and treated them equally, whether it was USC or the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from which he received a late offer. "I take it more as an honor that they offered me a scholarship," Vereen said. "But it's a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision."
Vereen said academics played a big part in making up his mind. Three weeks ago, with his family, the two-year varsity starter for the Vikings visited the Cal campus. He came back thinking it was a great fit and decided with his family to make the choice. Cal's running back situation right now is stable. Heisman Trophy candidate Marshawn Lynch is a junior, but if he were to declare for the NFL Draft in 2007, Cal would have to turn to somebody with likely little experience. Cal has two incoming freshmen on the 2006 roster. "We talked to the running backs coach (Ron Gould) about (playing opportunities), and he said, 'If you're ready to play, you'll play,'" Vereen said. "But he didn't make any promises." Valencia head coach Larry Muir, a former college football player at UCLA, thinks Vereen's game will translate well to the next level.
"He's a very explosive player and has a great work ethic, and you have to have that at that level," Muir said. "But he will go to Cal, and there will be a lot of Shane Vereens there." This Shane Vereen said he felt relieved after making his decision, as now he can put all his concentration on a senior season with the Vikings. In two years on varsity, the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder has been a quadruple threat as a tailback who runs and catches well - he is also a terror on kick returns and is solid as a defensive back. He rushed for a combined 3,037 yards, had 1,625 reception yards and scored 68 touchdowns as a sophomore and junior. Vereen averaged 9.7 yards per rush as a junior and made three interceptions on defense. The Cal-Santa Clarita Valley connection has been prolific under Tedford.
Current Baltimore Ravens quarterback and Hart High graduate Kyle Boller, Arizona Cardinal and former College of the Canyons running back J.J. Arrington and current Cal quarterback and Canyon graduate Nate Longshore have played for the coach. Vereen is the third running back in Valencia's 11-year history to get a Division I scholarship, joining current Washington Redskin Manuel White, who attended UCLA, and Charles Burnley, who went to Oregon State. Vereen cannot sign with Cal until National Signing Day on Feb. 7 and Cal cannot comment on the Viking star until he does sign.
The Signal's 2006 All-Santa Clarita Valley Co-Track and Field Athlete of the Year said he's been told he can run track for Cal, but hasn't decided if he will.
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