Wade Norberg, an all-state offensive tackle for SBCC, is transferring to Auburn with hopes of playing football in the powerful Southeastern Conference.
Norberg started in all 20 games at left tackle the last two years for the Vaqueros. He was the tallest player on the squad at 6-foot-6 but weighs just 220 pounds.
?Auburn recruited him but felt he?s too thin right now to be a scholarship player,? said SBCC coach Craig Moropoulos. ?He?s going there as a ?preferred walk-on.? They?re going to redshirt him this year and try to beef him up. They think he has a great chance to be on scholarship in 2014.
?They want to use him as a blocking tight end. It?s the SEC and that?s big time.?
Moropoulos described Norberg as ?a first-class young man with great character and great integrity. As thin as he was, he never really got knocked down. It?s a great opportunity for him to go to arguably the best football conference in the country.?
SEC teams have won the last seven Bowl Championship Series titles, including two in a row by Alabama.
Two other Vaqueros are planning to play at NCAA Div. 1 schools — cornerback Femi Odaibo accepted a scholarship from Troy University in Alabama and running back Kevin Denis is going to walk-on at Utah State.
Odaibo had 42 tackles and one interception last season while Denis led the team in rushing with 443 yards and five touchdowns in seven games.
SBCC football practice starts on Monday, Aug. 5 and the season opener is Sept. 7 vs. Hancock at Righetti High.
