Hometown Report: Vanderdoes to talk to football, baseball coaches at USC

Nationally recruited defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes of Placer High School will go on an unofficial visit to USC next month to talk with coaches for football – and baseball.

USC wants him for both sports, and Vanderdoes is curious about the school.

Vanderdoes has 52 football scholarship offers because of his size (6-foot-3 and 305 pounds), strength, quickness and grades. Though he doesn't have a favorite school yet, his many options include Alabama, LSU, Florida, Michigan, Penn State and most of the Pacific-12 Conference.

He also excels at baseball.

"I love baseball, and it's something I think about because I could play baseball for a long time if anything were to happen in football," said Vanderdoes, a designated hitter, pitcher and first baseman. "I love football, too. Doing both is something to think about."

This season, Vanderdoes batted .420 with six home runs and 10 stolen bases. He plays baseball in his football cleats, and it's quite a sight seeing him rumble into second base on a steal.

Leading linebackers

Linebackers Jeff Camilli of Ponderosa, Beau Hershberger of Granite Bay, Sterling Powell of Monterey Trail, Abnor Toma of Grant and Tanner Vallejo of Nevada Union are rising fast on the recruiting radar before their senior seasons.

Grant and Nevada Union will renew their rivalry Aug. 31, and Granite Bay and Nevada Union will battle Del Oro for the Sierra Foothill League title.

Baseball signings

Jesuit shortstop Zach Green has signed with the Phillies, Davis pitcher Ben Eckels with the Diamondbacks and Grant outfielder Shaq Thompson with the Red Sox. Thompson signed Friday and will report to Washington at the end of the summer to start his football scholarship.

Around the region

• Linebacker Ryan Rau of Folsom High and Portland State has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. He was the Delta River League Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.

• Baltimore Ravens rookie cornerback Asa Jackson of Christian Brothers missed all three weeks of the team's organized team activities because he was finishing classes at Cal Poly. He said he is a quick learner in shoulder pads, too.

• Wide receiver Tony Kays has been inducted into the UC Davis Hall of Fame. He holds UCD records for season receptions (93) and yards (1,213).

• Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie of Oak Ridge and his BYU-bound brother Dylan Collie, will offer hands-on instruction today at Burbank High for high school pass catchers. More information: www.receivertech.com.

• Jose Canseco is scheduled to throw out the first pitch when the Stockton Ports host the Visalia Rawhide at 7:05 tonight at Banner Island Ballpark. The 47-year-old Canseco, who's batting .188 for the Worcester (Mass.) Tornadoes of the Can-Am League, also is scheduled to play in Rockland, N.Y., tonight. Tornadoes general manager Jorg Bassiacos denied a report that Canseco, who has been limited by an ankle injury, would be released after Friday night's game.

• Cosumnes River College center fielder Colby Brenner from Elk Grove High signed a letter of intent with Long Beach State, and CRC pitcher Bryce Shandro from Franklin High signed with Hawaii.

• Read more articles by Joe Davidson

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