Football: OCC’s linebackers move on

Dustin Davis and Justin Blackard, two of Orange Coast College’s

remarkable linebacker trio, have committed to universities, Pirates’

Coach Mike Taylor said.

Davis, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound outside linebacker, is already enrolled

at West Virginia Wesleyan after committing Sunday.

Blackard, a hard-hitting middle linebacker, committed to Arkansas

State on Wednesday.

Martin Janzon has just returned from Sweden where he was born and

raised. The unanimous All-Mission Conference Selection has been trying to

catch up with phone calls from universities, Taylor said.

The three linebackers combined for 389 tackles this season and Davis

recorded 143.

Offensive lineman Adam Fisher and punter Eddie Johnson, both

All-Mission Conference first-team selections, also visited Arkansas State

with Blackard, but decided to hold out for other prospects.

Fisher will visit Portland State this weekend and Johnson will visit

Idaho State. Johnson, a Newport Harbor High product, will most likely

play for Idaho State because they play in a dome stadium, Taylor said.

Vance Babin, a 6-foot-4 defensive tackle who was an All-Mission

Conference selection, is being heavily pursued by UNLV and Taylor said he

will most likely play there in the fall.

-- Steve Virgen