Getting Receiver Was a Real Catch for El Camino : Community colleges: Sophomore Latario Rachal has become one of the Mission Conference’s best offensive players.

John Featherstone has seen many talented wide receivers go through his football program at El Camino College, but none like Latario Rachal. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore is unique in many ways.

“I’m fascinated with the body balance Latario has,” said Featherstone, who was a wide receiver at El Camino and San Diego State University. “He’s a piece of art. He’s got as great a feel for the game of football as any guy I’ve seen play this game. He’s the finest offensive player I’ve had at this school.”

Rachal, a sophomore from Carson High, ranks among the Mission Conference’s top receivers with 34 catches for 642 yards and five touchdowns. He also leads the league in punt returns (14 for 278 yards) and ranks third in all-purpose yards with an average of 158 a game.

As a freshman at El Camino last year, Rachal was a community college All-American. He caught 36 passes for 804 yards and five touchdowns and ranked third in the state in all-purpose yards (198 a game).

“Anytime he touches the football he’s liable to score,” Featherstone said. “He has an innate ability to know where the defense is. I’ve never really seen the first guy tackle him. They smack him and he turns and avoids them. . . . He’s also tough--unbelievably tough--and a great blocker. He always hustles down the field.”

Rachal is known for his outstanding speed and good hands. Although he frequently gets double-teamed, quarterback Jerry Singleton says Rachal makes his job a lot easier.

“He’s the best receiver I’ve ever seen,” Singleton said. “He’s best after he gets the ball. He has incredible moves. It’s great to have him out there because he’s real tough and real durable. Even though he’s kind of small he takes lots of hits.”

Rachal, 19, was heavily recruited out of Carson High, but failed to meet the minimum grade-point average to receive a scholarship at an NCAA Division I college under Proposition 48 guidelines.

As a senior in 1990, he was considered the most dynamic of the Colts’ receivers. He led the team with school-record totals of 55 catches, 1,252 yards, 21 touchdowns and 138 points. He also set career records for receiving yards (1,585) and touchdowns (23).

That year, Carson quarterback John Walsh led the state in passing and the Colts had an array of talented receivers that included Abdul Muhammad (Nebraska) and Theron Hill.

“There’s no aspect of the game he’s not good at,” said Gene Vollnogle, who coached Rachal at Carson. “He can catch the ball in a crowd, and once he catches it he does everything. There’s no question he’s Division I material. He has more talent than a lot of guys playing at four-year colleges now. He’s got to be at the top of the list of a lot of schools.”

Featherstone says Rachal is one of the most highly recruited players he has coached. He has received letters from practically every Pacific 10 Conference school, the University of Miami, Texas A&M; and Nevada Las Vegas.

“For sure I’m leaving California,” Rachal said. “I want to see new places. I don’t want to be around my friends all my life. There’s lots of pressure. My high school friends want me to hang around all the time, but with school and football it’s hard to find spare time.”

Rachal considered attending an out-of-state community college after learning his grades would prevent him from playing at a four-year school.

“It was pretty disappointing,” Rachal said. “I wanted to leave because I didn’t want people to ask, ‘Why are you at a (community college)? What happened?’ Lots of people still ask why I didn’t go to a big college. I felt like I disappointed my mother.”

Rachal, a business administration major, said his grades have improved and he’s on schedule to get an Associate in Arts degree that will allow him to play at a Division I college in the fall. He plans to be the first in his family of seven siblings to graduate from college.

“I’m really trying harder in school,” Rachal said. “I’m really applying myself more. It’s not easy, though.”

His other goal is to play in the NFL, although his size could be a drawback.

“I play bigger than my size,” Rachal said. “I’ll hit the biggest guy if I have to. I have a big heart. Wherever the ball goes I’m there, even if there’s someone there to hit me. I go all out every down.”

Featherstone believes Rachal has a legitimate chance at playing in the NFL, providing he adds muscle to his frame.

“Latario is not quite tall enough or big enough yet to take the NFL pounding week after week,” Featherstone said. “He’s just now lifting weights for the first time. Once he puts on 10 to 15 pounds and he grows into a complete man, he can play anywhere.”