Sleeper emerging with strong performance

Sleeper athlete prospect Rashaad Reynolds (6-0, 170, 4.45) from San Fernando, Calif., is a player to keep your eye on this fall. While playing quarterback this past Saturday, he led his team to a surprise championship in the L.A. Valley College passing league tournament over a very impressive list of schools.

Some of the schools that participated in that tournament were Lake Balboa (Calif.) Birmingham, Los Angeles (Calif.) Dorsey, Los Angeles (Calif.) Verbum Dei, West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade and the team they best in the championship game, Los Angeles (Calif.) Loyola.

Reynolds was definitely the team leader and was very instrumental in San Fernando's victory. Not only did Reynolds do the job as a quarterback, but he was also playing in the defensive backfield where he picked off a pass that was worth two points and that was the difference in the game as the Tigers took home a two point victory.

As a junior, while playing quarterback, Reynolds threw for approximately 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also added roughly 600 yards on the ground and had six rushing touchdowns.

Reynolds earned first-team all-league and first-team all-city honors for his efforts in 2007. He will be playing both ways as a senior and will add cornerback to his duties this fall when his senior season rolls around.

Most colleges are recruiting him as an athlete.

"Rashaad is a definite D-I prospect," San Fernando assistant coach Chris Richards said. "He has the athleticism and smarts that D-I schools are looking for."

On the recruiting front schools such as Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Fresno State and San Diego State are looking at him.

What is Reynolds looking for in a college?

"Academics will be first and then a college that fits my style of play," Reynolds said. "I am also looking for a coaching staff that will help me as a player, fulfill all of my potential."

"Right now Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA are my favorites," Reynolds said. "But I'm really very open, those are just a few of the schools that I like."

Reynolds plays at a school that use to send players to the D-I level all the time, but they have fallen on hard times of late. He looks to be the catalyst to bring back the rich tradition that is San Fernando high school.

Reynolds is definitely one to watch this fall.