JUCO picks up Utah offer

Utah is the latest school to jump on the Castine Bridges bandwagon as they offered him a scholarship on Tuesday. Bridges is the talented cornerback from Diablo Valley College (Calif.) who finished tied for the state lead in interceptions as a freshman in 2004.

Just last week Bridges picked up his second offer when Kansas State offered and Missouri offered in late-May. UNLV, Cal and Marshall have all been rumored to be interested in Bridges in recent weeks as well.

"I called them earlier today to keep in touch and that's when they offered," said Bridges. "I will take a visit there on October 14."

Bridges finished with eight interceptions and was named to the jucaltransfer.com all state team for his efforts in addition to earning all conference recognition. He is 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and has tremendous leaping ability. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and will have three years to play two following the 2005 season.

Bridges is on track to be out in December with his AA degree and will likely have a deal in place before the end of the 2005 season. He will take a trip to Missouri on November 12 and has been taking summer school courses and cramming in night courses in order to make the transfer happen in December.

Bridges attended Pinole Valley High School and was recruited by San Jose State out of high school. Like many in the junior college ranks, Bridges failed to qualify academically and therefore had to take the JC route.

When asked about a wish list back in May, Bridges listed Oregon, Cal and Missouri but reiterated that he would be excited to play anywhere so long as it is DI. Now that other teams have come on board and shown interest, Bridges says Utah would be a place he would really like to go.

"My boy Quinton Ganther goes to Utah and he tells me about it all the time," said Bridges last week. "He's been keeping me updated and telling me they like me."

Quinton Ganther is a senior running back at Utah out of Citrus College (Calif.) and a teammate of Bridges back in Pop Warner football. They have maintained a close relationship ever since.

"I was really excited they offered," said Bridges of Utah. "I still want to see what it is like before I decide. They sent a lot of people out this year to the league."