Saddleback’s Vedder, Cesta Commit to Pac-10 Schools

Justin Vedder and Joe Cesta, Saddleback College’s two most celebrated football players, have made oral commitments to Pacific 10 Conference schools.

Vedder, a sophomore quarterback who set every major Saddleback passing record, is heading to California. Cesta, a middle linebacker who was a first-team J.C. Grid-Wire All-American, is going to Arizona State.

Vedder, from Laguna Hills High, picked Cal over Oregon, Arkansas and New Mexico. He said he picked Cal because it is close to home and because he’ll have a chance to start because quarterback Pat Barnes is a senior.

“It fulfills a dream for me to play in the Pac-10,� Vedder said. “I really like the system and all I have to do is be me.�

Before last season, Vedder predicted that Saddleback would go undefeated and then led Saddleback to an 11-0 record and a share of the national championship in the USA Today poll. He was a second-team All-American and the Mission Conference Central Division offensive player of the year.

Vedder led Saddleback to a 17-game winning streak over two seasons and in his career had 356 completions for 4,979 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Cesta, who is from Los Angeles Loyola High, was the Mission Conference Central Division defensive player of the year. He was Saddleback’s leading tackler for two seasons and defensive coordinator Eric Patton said Cesta is one of the best players he has ever coached.

The pair, who have been roommates at Vedder’s house for about a year, will begin classes next month and see each other next Nov. 8 when Cal plays Arizona State.