Mohler chooses Colorado

FOOTBALL: Orange Coast star picks Buffaloes over a barrage of other scholarship offers after souring on Nebraska.

By Barry Faulkner
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Deanna Mohler can have her living room back, after her son, Shaun Mohler, a former Corona del Mar High and Orange Coast College linebacker, ended an intense recruiting battle by declaring he will sign a letter of intent in February to play football at Colorado next season.

The decision, confirmed Tuesday by the 6-foot-3, 225-pound outside �backer who shared Mission Conference American Division Defensive Player of the Year laurels in 2007, puts a halt to a parade of college coaches who had entered the Mohlers� Newport Beach condominium in recent weeks.

Mohler originally committed to Cal in May, then changed his mind and gave a verbal commitment to Nebraska in June. But when Nebraska fired Coach Bill Callahan in November, Mohler welcomed all suitors.

The result was a flurry of scholarship offers from the likes of, but not limited to, Oregon, Cal, Arizona State, Kansas, Washington State, Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, San Diego State and Colorado.

Mohler returned Sunday from a recruiting trip to Boulder, where he said he was impressed by several factors.

�I liked everything,� Mohler said. �I liked the town, the stadium and the coaches.�

Mohler said he was happy to have the choice behind him and he looks forward to regaining some normalcy after the busy recruiting process.

�At one time last week, [newly hired Nebraska Coach] Bo Pellini was in my living room, and, on his way out, a coach from Kentucky came by at the same time,� Mohler said. �Before [the Kentucky coach] was finished, Iowa came by,� Mohler said. �It�s nice to be wanted, but I�m so happy my decision is behind me.�

Mohler, who has overcome a learning disability to solidify his academic standing at OCC, said he is on pace to receive his associate of arts degree in May. He is slated to arrive in Boulder in early July, where he has already been penciled in as a starter.

Mohler said he will major in sociology.

In his second season of stardom for the Pirates, Mohler amassed 98 tackles, including 60 solo stops, in 10 games. He had a conference-best 22 tackles for loss, including 6 1/2 sacks to help the Pirates lead the 12-team Mission Conference in total defense.

As a freshman, Mohler had 108 tackles in 11 games, en route to first-team All-Mission Conference National Division and second-team All-American laurels. He had 15 1/2 tackles for loss in 2006.

As a senior at CdM, he earned Newport-Mesa Defensive Player of the Year recognition by collecting 113 tackles in 12 games, helping lead the Sea Kings advance to the CIF Southern Section Division IX quarterfinals.

He also played quarterback, receiver, running back and punter, in addition to linebacker, as a high school senior.