San Diego running back snubs Oklahoma

Tuesday, December 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) _ One of the top high school running backs on the West Coast has spurned a scholarship offer from top-ranked Oklahoma in favor of attending and playing football for Ohio State next fall.

JaJa Riley, a 6-foot-2, 190-pounder from Mission Bay High School in San Diego, has committed to sign a national letter of intent with the Buckeyes, The Columbus Dispatch reported on Tuesday.

``Oklahoma is a nice program, but I think Ohio State's (offense) better suits my style,'' Riley told the newspaper.

``I thought Ohio State was the best place to go to school and the best place to play football.''

Riley leads his team with 1,400 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns.

Riley has grown up near the hometown of Michael Wiley, who started for two seasons as tailback for Ohio State before moving on to the Dallas Cowboys.

Like Wiley, Riley also was pursued by most of the West Coast schools, including Southern Cal and UCLA.

``Knowing Michael Wiley was from here helped me with my decision a little bit, because it kind of gave me a little motivation to think that if he can come from California and make it there at Ohio State, then I can make it, too,'' Riley said.

``Plus, I think I kind of wanted to get out of town a little bit.''