Pens Are Poised: Only nine more shopping...

Pens Are Poised: Only nine more shopping days until college football teams can sign to letters of intent the thundering herd of high school players who meet NCAA Division I-A standards of brawn and brain. Each of the more than 100 teams nationwide is allowed to dole out 85 scholarships to players who have passed a prep core curriculum and achieved a passing SAT score.

Drum Roll, Please: Justin Fargas of Notre Dame High, an All-American tailback and one of the most hotly pursued players in the nation, said he will announce his college choice Tuesday. He narrowed the field to USC, UCLA and Michigan after canceling a recruiting trip to Northwestern last week. Most Fargas followers predict he will become a Trojan.

Brilliant Moves: No wonder Matt Leonard of Palmdale High, Kevin Bentley of Montclair Prep and Josh Foster of Paraclete announced their decisions in recent days. They are understandably proud. Leonard, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman, will attend Stanford; Bentley, a 6-2, 210-pound linebacker, is headed to Northwestern; and Foster, a 6-7, 240-pound defensive end, will commit to Colorado.

Fenwick Strikes: Jim Fenwick left Cal State Northridge in the lurch by resigning as football coach three weeks ago. Now he is the offensive coordinator at New Mexico and is busy plucking plum players from the Valley area. The first is Antelope Valley High quarterback Justin Mobley, who said last week he will sign with the Lobos.