jtuscano@observer-reporter.com

The recruiting class for California University's football team got a little stronger this week with the addition of six players, including two transfers from Penn State.

The Vulcans found one of their best recruiting tools was the success of last season. Cal went 13-1, coming up one game short of the Division II national championship game.

Reaching that point sparked interest from around the country.

"This is a good recruiting class," said Cal head coach John Luckhardt. "We've gotten guys from all over. Part of it is because they've seen us on TV. I can't tell you how many contacts I've had from that."

Among them is Travis McBride, a 6-1, 200-pound running back who played in the 2006 Big 33 Game and will arrive in California for the start of fall camp.

McBride, a graduate of McKeesport High School, originally committed to Penn State. He will have four seasons of eligibility and join a stable of running backs that include Daine Williams, Windell Brown and Brandon Lombardy.

Dontey Brown, a 6-2, 252-pound inside linebacker, also transferred from Penn State. Brown's brother, Kendrick, will be a senior defensive lineman next season at Cal. Dontey Brown will be counted on to ease the loss of the Vulcans' starting inside linebackers and top two tacklers from last year, Brian Mohr and Josh Zunic.

Derek Fiorenza, a punter and placekicker, transferred from Villanova, where he will challenge Tyler Lorenz for the placekicking job. Fiorenza, a 4.0 student, is scheduled to graduate this spring but has two years of eligibility remaining. He will be a graduate assistant next fall.

Two players - Vondrey Griffin and Rontez Mills - transferred from Kent State. Both played at Woodland Hills High School.

Griffin is a defensive back, wide receiver and return specialist and Mills is a 6-2, 200-pound defensive back. Both have four years of eligibility.

Luckhardt got some help for the offensive line when Jack Range, a 6-7, 320-pound tackle, transferred from Sacramento (Calif.) City College. He will help ease the loss of All-American Tim McCutcheon.

"I think we have talent and I think we have depth," Luckhardt said. "What we're looking for now is for people to take a leadership role."

Kevin McCabe, a 6-4, 210-pounder who transferred from Virginia, gets first shot at replacing Joe Ruggiero as the starting quarterback.

Will Brogan (6-1, 200), who played in the run-and-shoot offense of June Jones at the University of Hawaii before coming to Cal; sophomore Brad Dawson, a graduate of Thomas Jefferson and brother of former Washington & Jefferson College standout Brian Dawson; and freshman Zach Grossi (6-2, 215) give Cal a deep pool of quarterbacks.

"McCabe is ahead," Luckhardt said. "Brogan has been around Colt Brennan and he has a level of maturity that we like. Dawson has missed the last two springs so it's nice to have him here. And we're going to red-shirt Grossi. One of the tough parts is to get reps for all these guys."

Kirby Griffin, who had a team-high seven pass breakups from his defensive end position, has decided to forego his last year of eligibility. Griffin was one of six players who are expected to be invited into an NFL camp after the draft.

Lombardy, rehabbing a knee injury suffered in the ninth game of the season, should be 100 percent when camp opens in the fall. Lombardy, right guard John Testa and tight end Cory Garver are being held out of spring practices as a precautionary measure for various injuries.

Notes

California's football team will attend a luncheon in Harrisburg as guests of Gov. Ed Rendell on either April 9 or 10. ... Cal will hold two scrimmages, one on April 12 and the other April 19. The spring game will be held Saturday, April 26. ... The football team is collecting non-perishable food at the April 12 and 26 games for the Washington County Food Bank. Donations also will be accepted at the games. ... The Vulcans' home-opener against West Chester will be televised by Fox Sports Pittsburgh. The tentative date is Wednesday, Aug. 27 but it could be changed. Games against Indiana Sept. 27 and Slippery Rock Oct. 25 also are tentatively scheduled for broadcast.

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