Fesser is in lockdown mode

One of the top cover-corners in California this coming season will be Mendocino College CB Randy Fesser (5-9, 172). He had a solid freshman campaign for the Eagles and he hopes an even better sophomore season results in some recruiting attention and some offers as well.

As a prep at Heritage High School in Vancouver, Washington, Fesser was receiving some 1AA and D-2 looks from local schools, but an injury caused him to miss all but two games of his senior season.

"I had good grades and stuff, but since I didn't play very much at all my senior year, I didn't get any offers," Fesser told JCFootball.com recently. "I'm pretty sure I was a qualifier, but I never really put my stuff in to the Clearinghouse because I wasn't getting any interest anyway.

"My coaches knew about Mendocino and they told me I could come down here and possibly get a scholarship after two years so I came down and I've been working hard and having a lot of fun."

Fesser's lockdown defense, helped lead the Eagles to the Bay Valley Conference championship and a bowl game. He amassed 30 tackles, 10 passes broken up and three intereceptions, one of which he returned 45 yards for a touchdown.

"I feel real comfortable running with receivers in man-to-man," Fesser said. "We play man-to-man 98% of the time, so you had better feel comfortable playing that type of D or you'll be in trouble."

Since he hasn't spent much time playing zone, that is an area of focus for Fesser this offseason.

"I know I need to get used to it because they play a lot of that at the next level," Fesser admitted. "I'm going to work on my backpedal and breaks out of that and how to read routes a little better and get used to breaking on the ball.

"It's all about quickness and just getting used to reading the quarterback as well as the receiver. I also want to get stronger too."

Even with his relatively small size, he still packs a punch when he comes up to support the run.

"I surprised a few people last fall," Fesser said proudly. "A couple of backs thought they would run over me because I'm small, but I laid them out and they didn't come to my side again.

"I'll come up and hit you. I don't care. I like to be physical and play hard-nosed and that's what supporting the run is all about."

On the recruiting front, Fesser has yet to hear from schools directly, but his coaches have told him coaches from D-1 schools have been inquiring about his services.

Fesser will finish up his two-year degree in December and he'll have three years to play two wherever he ends up.

Randy Fesser Scout Profile