Now that Sacramento's top college football recruits – Pleasant Grove's Arik Armstead and Grant's Shaq Thompson – have decided what schools they'll attend, today's national letter-of-intent signing day figures to be one of celebration more than suspense.

The buildup, intrigue and twists and turns seemed to hit an all-time high because of the ever-growing usage of the Internet and social media in recruiting.

That doesn't mean signing day was less important than it was, say, 15, 25 or 35 years ago before texts, blogs and tweets.

Recruiting was just as hectic for former area prep football stars. Here's a compilation of a few unique stories of how past area recruits selected – and were selected by – their schools of choice:

• In the summer of 1974, the Milwaukee Brewers signed first-round pick Butch Edge of El Camino, who was supposed to kick for the South in the annual Optimist All-Star football game for seniors. Jim Breech of Sacramento High, who had no scholarship offers, was called in as Edge's replacement. Breech did enough to impress Cal coaches, who gave him a scholarship on the spot. Breech went on to kick in two Super Bowls with the Cincinnati Bengals, and is the franchise's career scoring leader.

• Danny Farrell was an All-America wide receiver for Christian Brothers in 1974, and all set to play at Stanford. Future 49ers coach George Seifert, then Stanford's recruiting coordinator, was expected by the Farrell family to stop by with scholarship papers. Seifert never showed up.

When Christian Brothers assistant coach Dave Hoskins phoned Stanford, the university said Seifert had just accepted the Cornell University job. So long, scholarship. Farrell instead went to Santa Clara.

• Curt DiGiacomo of Foothill and American River College was torn between San Jose State and Arizona in 1983. The offensive lineman couldn't bear to say no to either program.

"I just really remember wanting to play in the Pac-10. That was my goal," DiGiacomo said Monday. "But I liked Jack Elway so much, I would have played for him at San Jose State."

When Arizona offensive coordinator Steve Axman stopped by his house with scholarship papers in hand, the family dog bit the coach in the chest. DiGiacomo felt so guilty, he signed with Arizona that day.

DiGiacomo is now a financial adviser in San Diego, where he played briefly in the NFL.

• In 1989, Fresno State coaches came to Sacramento to offer a recruit a scholarship, but he never showed up for the home visit.

Returning to the airport, former Bulldogs assistant Steve Mooshagian – who later coached Sacramento State – read a story in The Bee about McClatchy wide receiver Malcolm Seabron. Fresno State soon signed Seabron, who flourished with the Bulldogs and eventually played in the NFL.

Seabron now goes by Malcolm Floyd and coaches at McClatchy.

• In 1993, Hoskins, now head coach at Valley, couldn't understand why 6-foot-2, 315-pound lineman Jerry DeLoach was still flying below the recruiting radar. So Hoskins got on the phone.

"I called a Cal coach and told them UCLA just offered, then called UCLA and told them Cal offered, and neither was true," Hoskins said Monday.

"My daughter Kelly told me then, 'Dad, you just told a lie!' No, it was a scholarship trick."

It worked. Cal line coach Tom Cable – years before becoming the Raiders coach – checked out DeLoach during a basketball workout. DeLoach signed with Cal before playing in the NFL.

• Former Elk Grove star running back and linebacker Lance Briggs agonized over his college decision to the very last hours on signing day in 1999.

Moments before making his announcement, Briggs was on the phone with Arizona coach Dick Tomey and USC coaches – at the same time.

It wasn't until Briggs finally reached for an Arizona hat that he was sure of his commitment.

Said Briggs, a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Chicago Bears, last summer: "I really didn't know which school to pick. Arizona turned out to be the right choice. It changed my life forever."

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECRUITS

Area players who have verbally committed:

– Joe Davidson, Bill Paterson

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