Akins picks Cal

Junior cornerback Shon Akins of Norcross (Ga.) could have waited around for more offers to come. But after doing some research about California - the one program that had pulled the trigger - he decided that school was the right one for him.

"I committed [Sunday]," Akins told Rivals.com.

According to the 5-feet-9, 168-pound Akins, he also had some interest from schools such as Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Missouri and Oklahoma State.

"I called [Bears defensive backs coach] Ashley Ambrose and told him I wanted to verbally commit," Akins said. "He was like, 'Okay, it's a good idea.' He said he'd get the head coach on the phone Monday. He wanted me to call him back then. It's official, but he just wants to run it by the head coach."

Even though Akins has not yet talked to Bears coach Jeff Tedford, he is confident the commitment will be accepted.

"You could hear in Coach Ambrose's voice he was excited," Akins said. "Me and him have a good relationship. If it was a problem he would have told me straight up."

As a first-year starter in 2011, Akins recorded three interceptions. Last week, he was among the top performers at the Rivals.com/VTOSports Elite 100 Georgia Camp in Marietta.

Akins has not yet visited Cal, but plans to soon.

"I was supposed to go during Spring Break, but things got rearranged, so now I'm going this summer," Akins said. "I have family from California. Everybody was telling me how beautiful it is there, and that the education is nice. Coach Ambrose and a player I know there have told me good things about the program as well."