CORONA, CA. – Javon McKinley is headed for South Bend.
It might be one of the most glittering prep-to-college football signings in recent weeks, especially considering the Centennial-Corona senior played through injuries through much of the Huskies’ 2015 season.
Inland Empire players (those from San Bernardino and Riverside counties) have made their decisions, with more to follow in the coming weeks.
IE players have committed to such nationally prominent schools as UCLA, USC, Arizona, Oregon, Arizona State, Brigham Young University, Stanford, Washington, Purdue and the Naval Academy.
Websites Rivals and Scout.com, in providing most of the data, quickly spotlighted McKinley’s signing after he committed during a high school all-star game in San Antonio this weekend.
Though college total signings are not close to realized, the area’s top programs have showcased enough talent to attract the collegiate recruiters to the IE for a wide array of prospects.
State Open Division runner-up Centennial led the way with at least seven by Jan. 1
Carter-Rialto, a non-playoff team in 2015, is among the Citrus Belt League leaders with four recruits, including the UCLA-bound Toalioa brothers, Lokeni and Leni.
Redlands East Valley receiver C.J. Harris is headed for Nevada-Las Vegas while A.B. Miller defensive end Freddie Livai gives the CBL six signings to date.
As for State Division 2 playoff bowl champion Citrus Hill-Perris, consider WR JaQuan Blackwell (San Jose State), DB Skyler Thomas (Washington State) and QB Brett Vigil (U.S. Naval Academy) among the first Hawks to sign.
There will be more throughout the IE.
McKinley, who caught 57 passes for 1,173 yards and 13 touchdowns during his senior season for Southern Section champion Centennial is prominent among the area’s top athletes that have committed to major collegiate programs through early 2016.
He’s a 6-foot-2, 200-pound standout whose junior year was far more spectacular – 96 catches, plus a Southern Section record with 2,062 yards receiving (the record has since been broken).
COMMITMENTS
Kevin Atkins, DT, Vista Murrieta – Fresno State
Robert Awunganyi, WR, Burroughs-Burbank (formerly Arlington-Riverside) – Texas-El Paso
JaQuan Blackwell, WR, Citrus Hill-Perris – San Jose State
Camryn Bynum, DB, Centennial-Corona – Cal
Bryson Cain, OL, Great Oak-Temecula – Arizona
Stephen Carr, RB, Summit-Fontana (2017) – USC
Thomas Cletcher, LB, Centennial-Corona - Louisiana Tech
Troy Dye, DB, Norco – Oregon*
Demetric Felton, RB/DB, Great Oak-Temecula – UCLA*
C.J. Harris, WR, Redlands East Valley – UNLV
Jacob Hennie, QB, Santiago-Corona – Air Force
Aleva Hifo, DB, Heritage-Menifee – BYU
Jaden Gardner, LB, Notre Dame-Riverside – Idaho
Marquise Green, DB, Carter-Rialto – San Jose State
Lloyd Hightower, WR/DB, Chaparral-Temecula – Idaho
Daniel Juarez, OL, Centennial-Corona – Cal-Berkeley
Dwayne Johnson, DB, Vista Murrieta – San Diego State
Sean Krepsz, OL, Riverside City College (King-Riverside) – Nevada-Reno
Lio Lafaele, OL, Riverside City College (Centennial-Corona) – Memphis
Freddy Livai, DE, AB Miller-Fontana – BYU
Kentrell Love, DB, Centennial-Corona – Washington
London Miller, DB, Mt. San Jacinto College (Paloma Valley) – Ohio
C.J. Parker, DB, Mt. San Jacinto College (Paloma Valley) – Purdue
David Potts, LB, Roosevelt-Eastvale – Idaho
Jake Schwarzer, LB, Great Oak – Navy
Cameron Smith, WR, Roosevelt-Eastvale – San Jose State
Nathan Smith, OL, Murrieta Mesa – USC*
Marcus Strong, DB, Carter-Rialto – Washington State
J.J. Taylor, RB, Centennial-Corona – Arizona
Lokeni Toailoa, LB, Carter-Rialto – UCLA*
Leni Toailoa, DB, Carter-Rialto – UCLA*
Skyler Thomas, DB, Citrus Hill-Perris – Washington State
Chacho Ulloa, DB, Centennial-Corona – Stanford
Brett Virgil, QB, Heritage-Menifee – Army
Dwayne Wallace, OL, Riverside City College (King-Riverside) – Cal-Berkeley
Shemiah Whitson, LB, San Gorgonio-San Bernardino – Oregon State
Desmond Williams, DB, Centennial-Corona – Boise State
Kyle Williams, WR, Vista Murrieta – Arizona State
Quireo Woodley, OL, Murrieta Valley – Fresno State
*Denotes early signing
