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St. Mary’s High senior Leon Drummer verbally committed to the Cal football program on Monday, keeping the pipeline of lineman from Peralta Park to the university open and flowing with talent. 

The 6-foot-6, 295-pound Drummer impressed at the Nike Camp at Stanford University earlier this summer and was hotly pursued. He narrowed his choices down to Cal, Colorado and Washington last month, then made his decision. 

A verbal commitment is non-binding until an official letter of intent is signed, and Washington head coach Rick Neuheisel has been accused of trying to get recruits to recant verbal commitments to other schools. But Drummer said he is “100 percent committed to Cal.” 

“I just wanted to get it out of the way before I start my senior year,” he said. “Now I don’t have to worry about anything but school and football.” 

Drummer, who will play both offense and defense for St. Mary’s during the upcoming season, hopes to join Alexander on the Bears’ defensive line, but his future may be on the other side of the ball. Drummer said defensive line coach Ken Delgado and offensive line coach Jim Michalczik have both expressed interest in him. 

Drummer is set to join former St. Mary’s teammate Lorenzo Alexander as a Golden Bear. Alexander totaled 24 tackles and a sack as a true freshman last season. 

Drummer pointed to two factors when deciding among his final three choices. 

“When it comes down to it, I want to be near my family in Oakland and Berkeley,” he said. “My parents will be 20 minutes away, so when I need some home cooking it’ll be there.” 

Drummer said the chance to play with Alexander again was also a big factor on Cal’s side. The duo dominated the Bay Shore Athletic League trenches together in 1999 for the Panthers. 

Callen to transfer: Cornerback Atari Callen failed to complete his academic requirements and was ruled ineligible for the 2002 season. Callen has decided to transfer to Idaho State. 

Bears add four: a former minor-league baseball player and three junior college transfers signed with Cal this week as wide receivers Junior Brignac and Joe Crenshaw, linebacker Ryan Estes and fullback Steve Torgersen were added to the team. 

Brignac was a Washington signee before deciding to take a shot at baseball in 1996, but never made it out of the minor leagues. An all-city selection by the Los Angeles Times as a high school senior, Brignac played quarterback, receiver and safety and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. 

Crenshaw comes from El Camino College, where he had 24 catches for 550 yards and six touchdowns last fall. Estes was a first-team all-conference player at Modesto Junior College, while Torgerson transferred from Foothill Junior College.