NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: READY TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP AREA FOOTBALL PLAYERS SET TO SIGN LETTERS OF INTENT.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer

National Signing day has finally arrived, and that means Malcolm Smith can relax for the first time in months.

Smith, a linebacker for Taft of Woodland Hills, will officially sign his letter-of-intent with USC today, a gesture that will be repeated hundreds of times across the country as high school football players make their committments official.

He is one of three players from the region making the jump to the Trojans, joining Oaks Christian of Westlake standouts Mark Tyler and Marshall Jones.

``I'm just really excited,'' Smith said. ``The last few days waiting for (today), I just wanted it to be right now, because I didn't want to wait anymore.''

Although signing day marks the realization of a dream, it also signals a new beginning, as players commit to taking their skills to the next level.

San Diego State-bound Aubrey Smith, a receiver/safety for Chaminade of West Hills, used that as motivation to keep training hard after the season ended in December.

``It's going to be a whole lot different in college, so all I've been doing is getting ready to go down there,'' he said. ``I'm preparing myself as much as possible, because I'm just excited to get down there. I'm pretty happy, because I never thought I'd get a scholarship -- it was never a goal until my junior year, and when I started believing it, that's when I started working harder and harder to be where I am today. I feel blessed to be able to get a scholarship.''

Gildon sticks with Oregon: After saying early on he would commit to Oregon, Oaks Christian defensive back Anthony Gildon seriously considered switching to USC. He took an official visit to the Trojans last month, but on Monday reaffirmed his he would commit to the Ducks.

Now that Gildon's decision to go to Oregon is again solid, that leaves Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks receiver Shane Horton as the area's last big-time recruit who has yet to make a decision. Horton is expected to sign with either UNLV or Washington, and he has said he will announce his decision live at 5:30 tonight on Fox Sports Net West.

Another Burbank QB for Vegas: Two years after former Burbank quarterback Mike McDonald committed to UNLV, Robert Linda, will sign with the Rebels today.

They won't compete, because McDonald, a red-shirt freshman, transferred to Glendale College during winter break after being switched to linebacker at UNLV.

Linda passed for 803 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 591 yards and 17touchdowns this past season.

Alemany lineman to Washington: Among the surprise success stories in the area is Mark Armelin, a relatively unknown Alemany of Mission Hills offensive lineman who will sign today with Washington.

``Mark kind of slipped under the radar because they had him on defense the year before,'' first-year coach Dean Herrington said. ``He's more of an offensive guy, so that's why I switched him to offensive line.''

Crescenta Valley hires coach: Tony Zarrillo, a longtime Crescenta Valley coach in various sports, will be the school's new head football coach after serving as an assistant last season under Alan Eberhart, who quit after the sixth game.

Zarrillo, 57, was given the job, even though Eberhart had reapplied for it .

Peterson waiting: La Canada running back Lavelle Peterson won't sign today because he has yet to meet NCAA academic qualifications. He still remains a hot commodity. Arizona, UCLA, Washington State, Arizona, Alabama and San Jose State have expressed interest in him.

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