AVC COACH PLEASED WITH WORK.

Byline: J.J. Bowman Special to the Daily News

With Antelope Valley College's football team in its final week of on-field practice before July summer camp, coach Brent Carder likes what he sees.

``We're very pleased with what's going on - not only on the field but in the weight room,'' he said.

Carder hasn't seen much from the high school recruits who are busy wrapping up their senior year. AVC has a deep reservoir of returning starters, and Carder said the players are healthy.

Because of a rule change three years ago, AVC can no longer recruit players from out of state. That forced the coaching staff to redirect its effort toward players who were recruited in the past but did not join the team.

``We make a real serious effort to go back and re-recruit guys,'' Carder said. ``That process has probably netted us 10 to 12 pretty good football players.''

Carder said his staff focuses on athletes on campus who could not play last year and others who were recruited but could not make it to AVC. The Marauders also also looked at players who have left the military.

Overall, Carder is pleased with the team so far. He said the on-field practices should lead toward a productive June in the weight room, which will prepare the players to start summer practice July 6.

``It's all part of a progression,'' he said.