The Fab Forty, No. 35: Valley Christian’s shutdown corner

SAN JOSE — Valley Christian senior Deven Vanderbilt caught maybe the most important touchdown pass of the 2018 season.

It was a 55-yard quick slant with under four minutes left in regulation to force overtime in the Central Coast Section Open Division II championship game. The Warriors went on to prevail 31-30 in double overtime over West Catholic Athletic League rival St. Francis.

But the 17-year-old isn’t interested in scoring touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound shutdown cornerback at Valley Christian is more intent on keeping wide receivers out of the end zone.

“I kind of see myself more as a cornerback,” Vanderbilt said. “I like playing receiver, but playing defense has more of a together feel of team than offense for me. It’s fun because I have a little more freedom than offense.”

Vanderbilt finished last year with two interceptions and 37 tackles, showing he’s not afraid of contact.

If it’s speed you want, in the spring he swept the 100- and 200-meter titles at the WCAL track and field championships, runner-up at CCS in the latter.

“He’s a big-time player,” Valley Christian coach Mike Machado said.

The three-star recruit already has an offer from BYU. During this process, his focus is on coaches who come off as honest and promise more than just life as a student-athlete.

“It’s been kind of up and down,” Vanderbilt said. “I’m more focused on what school fits me best, but also what I can do after football and all that stuff.”

The Warriors posted four shutouts during an 11-3 campaign in 2018, while allowing seven or fewer points in another four games.

So it’s safe to say that the defense isn’t fond of giving up any touchdowns.

“Most definitely we’d be mad at ourselves,” Vanderbilt said. “We already have a feel of what the defense is, which should be able help the kids that come up to know what the high, up-tempo defense is.”

Denied a shot at a California Interscholastic Federation Division I-A state title last year after a hard-fought 33-21 loss to eventual champion Liberty in the NorCal final, effort won’t be an issue this fall at Valley Christian.

“I think we can probably top that by obviously winning state and going further than we went last year,” Vanderbilt said. “And just working as hard as the team that was able to win CCS.”

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