USC or Cal for McAllister

The last couple of years, we've recognized Danville (Calif.) Monte Vista athlete Drew McAllister as one of the top quarterbacks in the state. So it came as somewhat of a surprise when the the signal caller picked up offers from West Coast powers USC and Cal as a safety. McAllister decided to end the recruiting process and made his choice last night.

"I committed to USC," McAllister said. "It was a tough choice for me because both of my parents went to Cal and I grew up a die hard Cal football fan. I went to all the games and developed a good relationship with the coaches there, especially Coach Tedford.

"His son plays with me here at Monte Vista and Cal is a great school but I just felt in my heart, USC was the best place for me. I've been to USC a number of times because I have a lot of family out there too.

"I liked the idea of getting away from home, but still being close enough to come home when I wanted to. I camped with USC for their Rising Stars camp and just loved it.

"I've never been around coaches that are so intense and so motivating. The energy they coach with is incredible and the players just really respond to that. I worked out with the safeties there and I must have impressed them because they offered me a few days later.

"Cal had already offered me and I really focused on those two schools. Oregon State offered me as a quarterback and so did a few MWC schools but I was going to pick a college that I felt was best for me and it didn't matter what position I was playing.

"My sophomore year, I played all offense and last year, I played a little corner on third down situations. So I haven't gotten a lot of work at safety but I really like it a lot. It's a fun position and I'm excited to experience something new.

"USC, in my opinion, is the top football school in the country and was just too good to pass up. I took the emotion out of it because like I said, I was raised on Cal football, and when I did that, I just felt USC was the place for me.

"I wanted to go ahead and commit now so I don't have to worry about recruiting my senior year. I want to have fun and help my team win and I didn't want any distractions. Plus I didn't want USC to go out and offer a bunch of other safeties. I wanted to jump on the offer now and I'm very excited to be a Trojan."

McAllister, 6-1, 205 pounds clocked a 4.54-40 at the US Army combine and jumped 37 inches in the vertical at the USC camp. He's a two time all-state underclass pick at quarterback but will now be moving over to the other side of the ball for the Trojans.