Bear Insider Video: Jahvid Best

The Bear Insider sat down this week with Salesian running back Jahvid Best to hear his thoughts on becoming an elite back in 2006 as well as his commitment to Cal.

After leading Salesian to their first North Coast 1A championship in 2005, Best led the Chieftans to the playoffs again this season, as they fell just short of returning to the finals, bowing out to eventual NCS champ St. Patricks in the semis.

The 4 star running back put together one of the most prolific seasons in Bay Area sports history with his 3,255 yard, 48 td season, tying a 29 year old touchdown record for the CIF North Coast section.

Lest anyone think that Best is strictly a sprinter in pads, Best has shown outstanding ability to break tackles and pick up yards up the middle by anticipating and reading the defense.

"I think my main strength is my speed, obviously," said Best. "But beyond that, I think it's my vision on the field. I can see a play develop, I know where to look for a cutback and things like that."

“Jahvid has excellent hands, so he’s a weapon out of the backfield, too," said Salesian Head Coach Chad Nightingale.

Best brings world-class speed to the track as well, running an incredible 10.39 100 meter personal record in the prestigious Arcadia Invitational in April this year. He also ran the second-fastest 200 meter race in the state, winning the highly-competitive Sacramento Meet of Champions with a time of 21.03.

"Not only does Jahvid have great straightaway speed but he has great balance, vision and he can cut," said Cal Head Coach Jeff Tedford.

"Not only is he one of the fastest players in the state -he may be one of the fastest players in the country."

To hear Tedford's comments on Best at the Bear Insiders NorCal recruiting event, Click Here

Cal beat out some tough competition when it came to decision time for Best, as the star tailback narrowed his list to USC, Notre Dame and Cal.

"When I sat down and thought about all the schools I had to choose from, I just couldn't leave the Bay Area," said Best. "This is home.

"I can't even remember the last time my parents missed a game and my dad's even able to see a lot of practices and he'll be able to continue to come.

"It's the best of both worlds for me," continued Best. "You've got one of the best schools in the world as well as one of the best teams in the world."

To watch Best's video interview, Click Here

Jahvid Best profile

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