Walsh praises local recruits Berry and Ferguson

Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:12 PM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Feb 8, 2013 11:05 PM

Tim Walsh excited about adding Ferguson and Berry

Cal Poly football coach Tim Walsh calls his twelve member recruiting class of 2013 a great one. He is extremely excited about the two recruits he landed from the Central Coast.

The ink is barely dry on the national letters of intent San Luis Obispo High's Jack Ferguson and Templeton High's Ross Berry signed on Wednesday, but Walsh already has high hopes for the two. Both were All-League and All-CIF picks in 2012. Ferguson earned both his junior year as well.

Walsh say they're both Division IA prospects, who are physically mature enough to play as a true freshmen for the Mustangs. But it'll likely come down to how quickly they can adapt mentally to the college game.

"Ross Berry has a lot of things that are very positive. Not only is he a local guy that we really appreciate him coming, he's very talented and obviously he's got the make up we want as a young man. So he was a guy we were really fired up about way back in June," said Walsh of the 6-4, 285 pound offensive lineman. Berry also received offers from Nevada, Sacramento State and San Jose State when he committed to Cal Poly last summer.

Berry said he expected to play guard on the Mustangs' offensive line.

Walsh believes the Mustangs landed another top prospect in Ferguson. "I really think that Jack Ferguson is too. I really think that he is that kind of a player in his speed and his size. I think people would question what position he would play, we think he can play either or," said Walsh about the 6-2, 245 pound Ferguson, who was named the Pac 7's Defensive Back of the Year the last two years.

Ferguson said he could end up playing a hybrid of linebacker and defensive end for the Mustangs. As a junior, Ferguson racked up 152 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. As a senior, Ferguson tallied 110 tackles, 9 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles and 19 quarterback hurries. On top of everything, Ferguson owns a 4.2 GPA. He picked the Mustangs over offers from UC Davis, Eastern Washington, Portland State and Sacramento State.