UCLA offer delays Upland CB's decision
The day before Upland High School cornerback Osahon Irabor was to announce which of the 14 scholarship offers he'd accept, the 15th stopped him in his tracks.
Less than a week after he narrowed his potential destinations to theree - Arizona, Arizona State and Nebraska - UCLA offered the 5-foot-11, 183 pound senior-to-be Tuesday night.
"I was ready to make an announcement the following day but I am going to hold on for a few days to consider UCLA's offer and really sit down with my family and think this completely through," Irabor said in an e-mail. "I was totally caught by surprise and to have a chance to play in the Rose Bowl would be something special. The next few days will be tough for me, and I'm going to research and think this through completely. It will be hard to sleep in the next 48 hours."
Seemingly playing a large role in the offer are the recent de-commitments from UCLA of San Bernardino Cajon CB Marlon Pollard, who switched his verbal alligience to Notre Dame after visiting South Bend, and Harbor City Narbonne safety Byron Moore, who accepted an offer from USC.
Irabor, a hot prospect since early this offseason, has been offered by seven Pac-10 schools but expressed the most interest in USC and UCLA, neither of whom had offered until Tuesday.
"(Irabor) has always loved UCLA from early on in his recruitment," Upland recruiting coordinator and assistant coach Mike Esquivel said. "So how can he not explore UCLA a little bit more now that they have come into the picture full swing."