Redwoods receiver could be hot target

Although it is still very early in the process, it is starting to look like College of the Redwoods (Calif.) wide receiver Justin Veney may be one of the most sought after California junior college recruits during the 2005 season. The Baltimore product finished up his freshman season at Redwoods as one of the top receivers in the state and has been sorting through his mailbag and trying to figure out his future plans.

Veney attended Northern High School in Baltimore and was a three-time all-state player before spending two years in jail for assault. He then worked out with the Maryland Jaguars and the Pennsylvania Riverhawks (Arena II) in 2003 before heading to Redwoods along with his friend and offensive lineman Robert Capers.

The latest list of school looking for Veney's services include Oregon, Arizona, Auburn, North Carolina State, Louisville, Michigan State and TCU. He has plans of visiting Oregon and Arizona practices in the future but has not set any trips in stone.

"I'm looking for somewhere where I can fit in right away and play," said Veney. "Aside from that, I really haven't made a wish list yet."

Veney has enjoyed his stay at Redwoods so far and apparently, the environment has had a positive impact on his future. He was recently named to the National Dean's List, which honors America's outstanding college students. Veney looks forward to one more year at Redwoods.

"I've got one more year here and I'm just trying to get through it," said Veney. "I'm staying healthy and lifting weights."

The Veney numbers are somewhat staggering as he was recently clocked under 4.3 on the Redwoods campus. He also benched 320 and squatted 380 during the same workout.

Veney finished with 55 catches for 874 yards and nine touchdowns in 2004 and was named to the jucaltransfer.com all state team for his efforts. His nine TD's placed him 8th in the state amongst wide receivers while his 55 receptions ranked 19th.

Veney is 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and is on schedule to earn his AA degree in May 2006. When pressed for an answer as to what his favorite schools were at this point he said Oregon, North Carolina State and Auburn.