SHERRY, ATOE MULL DIVISION I OFFERS:CASA QBTO MAKE DECISION SOON; PUMAS LINEBACKER TO WAIT UNTI SENIOR YEAR OVER

Casa Grande quarterback Nick Sherry and Maria Carrillo linebacker Sam Atoe, two of the Empire's most heavily recruited football players in recent years, appear destined to play for Division I programs.

On Tuesday, Sherry was offered a full-ride scholarship from Colorado after receiving an offer from San Diego State in March. Atoe has recently been offered scholarships from San Diego State and Sacramento State, a Division I-AA school.

It is rare for the area to produce players who have received such commitments two-and-a-half months before the start of their senior season. The Empire has only had three football players sign D-I scholarships since 2006. Sherry will likely become the first quarterback from the area to sign with a D-I program out of high school since Cloverdale's Craig Bergman signed with Arizona in 1985.

Sherry, a 6-foot-5, 212-pounder, hopes to make his college decision within the next two weeks. And he could be making a choice among other schools besides Colorado and SDSU. Before offering him a scholarship, Sherry said both Washington and Arizona are waiting for Chandler (Ariz.) High quarterback Brett Hundley to make his college decision. Hundley, one of the nation's top QB prospects, has narrowed his choices to Washington, Arizona, UCLA, Oregon and Texas A&M.

"I'd like to get this recruiting stuff done and taken care of so I can just focus on (Casa Grande's) games," Sherry said.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Atoe received offers from both schools following Carrillo's two-week spring practice, which ended in mid-May. Atoe is also a dynamic running back, but both schools see him as a linebacker or strong safety in college.

Atoe will attend Cal's three-day team camp this weekend. He plans to attend one-day Rising Stars prospect camps at the University of Washington on June 22 and at USC on June 23. USC quarterbacks coach Clay Helton attended Maria Carrillo's spring practice.

Sacramento State head coach Marshall Sperbeck and San Diego State assistant coach Dan Ferrigno traveled to Santa Rosa after Carrillo's spring practice and made offers.

Atoe is in no hurry to make a decision.

"I'm thinking I'm going to wait until after my senior season," he said. "I'd like to just see how things go and see what colleges make the best offer."

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com