Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Eight SoCal players swell recruiting class
BY BRIAN DOHN, Staff Writer
Inside SOCAL
Article Last Updated:03/10/2007 09:31:34 PM PST
Many of the high school juniors swore nothing was pre-planned, but by the time each left campus, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell had an unprecedented haul of recruits.
Eight players, all from Southern California, gave non-binding oral commitments to be part of the Bruins' 2008 recruiting class during a high-octane day of unofficial visits to the Westwood campus by some of the most talented players around.
The group is led by defensive back Rahim Moore of Dorsey of Los Angeles, Compton defensive end Datone Jones, Colton defensive end Damien Holmes and Crespi of Encino safety E.J. Woods.
"It really wasn't planned," Holmes said. "I went there just wanting to learn more about UCLA. They sold everything to me. (The coaches) told us all they would love for us to commit, but there really wasn't that much pressure. People were just sold on it."
Also saying they would commit were Dorsey running back Jonathan Franklin, Culver City safety/receiver Antwon Moutra and Leuzinger of Lawndale linebacker Uona Kavienga.
The eighth player to commit was Crenshaw receiver Kemonte Bateman, but his is not considered as strong as the other seven because of extenuating circumstances.
Bateman, a dynamic player, received a verbal scholarship offer from UCLA, but is not expected to receiver a written offer for a while because he must clear significant academic hurdles to be admitted to UCLA, sources said.
"Let's just say he has a lot of work to do," a source said.
NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting about recruits until a binding signed national letter of intent is received, and signing day for these recruits is 11 months away.
The players gave kudos to Bruins defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker and recently hired receivers coach Eric Scott, who has strong ties to the inner city, for the recruiting haul.
They said Bruins running backs coach Dino Babers, who is also the recruiting coordinator, also had a major impact on the day.
"(The coaches) were talking, so I felt it," Franklin said. "I was so comfortable there. It was my place. If there's a chance I don't make it to the NFL, by me going to that school, I'm going to be successful in life. I'm going to have a good job, make good money, take care of my family. It balances out."
Holmes said the day was pretty typical of an unofficial visit. The group of players took a tour, were presented with academic information, met collectively with Dorrell and individually with position coaches.
"It just kind of happened," said Holmes, who added he has offers from Nebraska, Duke, Mississippi. "It wasn't like, `Hey, lets go in there together.' I can't speak for the other guys, but for me it was, `OK, let's do it.' But I guess we all felt the same way."
Moore, who had offers from Nebraska, USC, Auburn and Oregon, made 122 tackles and seven interceptions as a junior. He is listed by several recruiting services as the top defensive back in Southern California.
Woods said he played Pop Warner football with Moore, Franklin and Jones, and they often talked about playing college football together.
"I like that (UCLA's coaches) sell academics before anything, and they guarantee a degree," said Woods, who had 24 tackles five sacks last season. "They wanted a student-athlete. Other schools just wanted an athlete, and they didn't even ask what my grades were.
"I was going to wait it out because I'm just a junior, and Ohio State and Miami started showing me interest, but UCLA was the first school to recruit me. They offered me when I was a sophomore."
The commitments capped a week full of action for the football program, which received non-binding oral commitments from cornerback Aaron Hester of Compton Dominguez, receiver Jerry Johnson of Venice and defensive back Anthony Dye of Corona Santiago.
brian.dohn@dailynews.com
BY BRIAN DOHN, Staff Writer
Inside SOCAL
Article Last Updated:03/10/2007 09:31:34 PM PST
Many of the high school juniors swore nothing was pre-planned, but by the time each left campus, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell had an unprecedented haul of recruits.
Eight players, all from Southern California, gave non-binding oral commitments to be part of the Bruins' 2008 recruiting class during a high-octane day of unofficial visits to the Westwood campus by some of the most talented players around.
The group is led by defensive back Rahim Moore of Dorsey of Los Angeles, Compton defensive end Datone Jones, Colton defensive end Damien Holmes and Crespi of Encino safety E.J. Woods.
"It really wasn't planned," Holmes said. "I went there just wanting to learn more about UCLA. They sold everything to me. (The coaches) told us all they would love for us to commit, but there really wasn't that much pressure. People were just sold on it."
Also saying they would commit were Dorsey running back Jonathan Franklin, Culver City safety/receiver Antwon Moutra and Leuzinger of Lawndale linebacker Uona Kavienga.
The eighth player to commit was Crenshaw receiver Kemonte Bateman, but his is not considered as strong as the other seven because of extenuating circumstances.
Bateman, a dynamic player, received a verbal scholarship offer from UCLA, but is not expected to receiver a written offer for a while because he must clear significant academic hurdles to be admitted to UCLA, sources said.
"Let's just say he has a lot of work to do," a source said.
NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting about recruits until a binding signed national letter of intent is received, and signing day for these recruits is 11 months away.
The players gave kudos to Bruins defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker and recently hired receivers coach Eric Scott, who has strong ties to the inner city, for the recruiting haul.
They said Bruins running backs coach Dino Babers, who is also the recruiting coordinator, also had a major impact on the day.
"(The coaches) were talking, so I felt it," Franklin said. "I was so comfortable there. It was my place. If there's a chance I don't make it to the NFL, by me going to that school, I'm going to be successful in life. I'm going to have a good job, make good money, take care of my family. It balances out."
Holmes said the day was pretty typical of an unofficial visit. The group of players took a tour, were presented with academic information, met collectively with Dorrell and individually with position coaches.
"It just kind of happened," said Holmes, who added he has offers from Nebraska, Duke, Mississippi. "It wasn't like, `Hey, lets go in there together.' I can't speak for the other guys, but for me it was, `OK, let's do it.' But I guess we all felt the same way."
Moore, who had offers from Nebraska, USC, Auburn and Oregon, made 122 tackles and seven interceptions as a junior. He is listed by several recruiting services as the top defensive back in Southern California.
Woods said he played Pop Warner football with Moore, Franklin and Jones, and they often talked about playing college football together.
"I like that (UCLA's coaches) sell academics before anything, and they guarantee a degree," said Woods, who had 24 tackles five sacks last season. "They wanted a student-athlete. Other schools just wanted an athlete, and they didn't even ask what my grades were.
"I was going to wait it out because I'm just a junior, and Ohio State and Miami started showing me interest, but UCLA was the first school to recruit me. They offered me when I was a sophomore."
The commitments capped a week full of action for the football program, which received non-binding oral commitments from cornerback Aaron Hester of Compton Dominguez, receiver Jerry Johnson of Venice and defensive back Anthony Dye of Corona Santiago.
brian.dohn@dailynews.com
