CL South's Bernstein chooses Vandy

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CRYSTAL LAKE – Vanderbilt was one of the fervent pursuers of Crystal Lake South offensive lineman Jake Bernstein.

Commodores offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell came to Crystal Lake last spring to talk to the Gators’ 6-foot-4, 280-pound guard. When Caldwell was promoted to head coach last month, he passed the recruiting baton to defensive coordinator Jamie Bryant.

On Tuesday, Vanderbilt got its man. Bernstein called Caldwell Tuesday night and committed to play football at the Southeastern Conference school on scholarship. Bernstein, who also had Colorado and Minnesota among his final schools, wanted to make his commitment before the season opener, which is Friday at Grant.

“In academics, [Vanderbilt] is in a class with Harvard and schools like that,” Bernstein said. “And it’s SEC football, which is the best conference. They’ll play Ole Miss, Florida, ’Bama, it’s the best of the best, and I’ll be getting a premier education.”

Bernstein was a Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selection last season. In May, he attended a Nike Football Training Camp at Ohio State and was selected as one of the top 25 players. Gators coach Chuck Ahsmann credits Bernstein’s work ethic for getting him to the elite level.

“He’s worked awfully hard in the weight room to get bigger and get to that upper level,” Ahsmann said. “He’s a big kid who’s not fat. When he went to one-day camps, he was repping out as high or higher than the other linemen. He’s not just a big kid, he’s a good athlete.”

Bernstein said the recruitment process really heated up last spring around the time he first met Caldwell. In the meantime, Bernstein kept hitting the weight room and also worked on his speed and agility.

“My dad really helped me, he did a lot of stuff with my recruiting,” Bernstein said. “I’ve always been a gym junkie. I’ll be in the gym every day.”