CL South's Bernstein commits to Vandy

Crystal Lake South guard Jake Bernstein (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) committed to Vanderbilt University Tuesday night and will attend the Nashville, Tenn. school on a football scholarship.

Bernstein, a Northwest Herald All-Area first team selection last season, had narrowed his final three choices to Vanderbilt, Colorado and Minnesota. Vandy had been one of the schools recruitning him the hardest since head coach Robbie Caldwell came to Crystal Lake last spring.

"For academics, it's in a class with Harvard and schools like that," Bernstein said. "And it's [Southeastern Conference] football, that's the best football conference. They always have a team playing for the BCS championship."

Bernstein wanted to get his decision out of the way before the season opener. The Gators kick off the season at Grant Friday night. Caldwell called Tuesday after speaking to academic advisors at Vanderbilt and Berstein made it official when he called the coach back Tuesday night.

- Joe Stevenson