*** FOOTBALL TALENT MISSED ***

Article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Tuesday, July 20, 2004

College scouts missing chances to tab football talent
Mitch Stephens

Darren Spence sees what West Catholic Athletic League football coaches have seen for years.

"If he's not a Division I football player, I'm not sure what is," Spence said of recent St. Francis High graduate Will Taufoou.

The Santa Clara High coach has watched Taufoou the past two weeks in preparation for Wednesday's 30th annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Classic at San Jose City College.

Taufoou hasn't been offered a Division I scholarship despite earning all- league honors three straight years, including the MVP award last season when he rushed for 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns and recorded a team-high 85 tackles.

At 5-foot-11, the 235-pound fullback and linebacker is considered undersized for Division I, though Taufoou has accepted an invitation to walk- on at Cal. Spence thinks Cal coach Jeff Tedford is getting a steal.

"I'm sure he'll earn a scholarship by the time he leaves," said Spence, who heads the North squad for the 7:30 p.m. game. "He's definitely a kid who grows on you quickly."

Spence believes Taufoou is another example of how Peninsula and South Bay athletes are being overlooked by college scouts.

Only a few players from the game that pits just-graduated seniors have secured college scholarships.

Spence is perplexed how guys like Taufoou, St. Francis teammate Sione Umufuke (6-2, 320-pound lineman) and Santa Clara lineman Alex Reyes (6-4, 305), among others, have been bypassed. He said college scouts have made fewer visits to the region over the past decade.

"We're talking some big, very talented and bright kids not getting offers, " Spence said. "It's disappointing."