Mt. SAC QB Kevin Craft commits to UCLA
Mt. SAC quarterback Kevin Craft, who led the Mounties to the their first CCCAA championship game in 10 years this past fall, has given a verbal commitment to UCLA. There will be a story in Wednesday's paper, but I wanted to let you guys see it here to discuss it.
Craft, who was also being recruited by Hawaii and SMU, chose UCLA for a variety of reasons, but mainly due to the campus' closeness to his San Diego home, and the chance to work with new UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow. He said he was told he would receive every opportunity in the fall to earn the starting job. He won't be allowed to enroll until the summer due to NCAA transfer rules, but he can still attend practice and go to meetings, which should limit his learning curve.
Here's what the story i wrote in today's paper:
By Steve Ramirez
Staff Writer
Kevin Craft is headed west.
To Westwood, to be more specific.
The Mt. San Antonio College quarterback, who guided the Mounties to their first CCCAA championship game in 10 years this past fall, agreed late Monday to accept a scholarship offer from UCLA.
“As soon as UCLA hired Norm Chow (as offensive coordinator last week), they watched my tape and wanted to recruit me,” said Craft, who because of NCAA transfer rules is not eligible to enroll at UCLA until the summer. “In the end, it was just an excellent opportunity for me.
“It’s a great time to be a Bruin and a Bruin fan. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
Craft was a top prize among junior college quarterbacks. He earned CCCAA Player of the Year honors after completing 313-of-511 passes for 4,231 yards and 44 touchdowns. The Mounties finished 10-3 and lost 31-28 to City College of San Francisco in the state title game.
Craft also was high on the recruiting lists of the University of Hawaii and Southern Methodist University. Hawaii had wooed him all season, and SMU came into the picture in the past month when June Jones resigned as Hawaii’s head coach and took the SMU job.
But UCLA was just too appealing to the 22-year-old who started his college career at San Diego State and transferred to Mt. SAC.
“It’s an unbelievable academic school,” Craft said of UCLA. “And the coaching staff is real attractive. They are real close to home. There are a lot of attractive points to their program.”
One of them is Chow,
The veteran offensive coordinator, who previously worked at Brigham Young, USC and North Carolina State, has tutored three Heisman Trophy winners: Carlson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and Ty Detmer at BYU. Chow also coached San Diego Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers at North Carolina State and Vince Young the past two seasons for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL.
Craft said there are other reasons why he is looking forward to working with Chow.
“When I talked to him, yes, he’s a great coach. Everyone knows that,” Craft said. “But what stood out for me is that he’s just a good guy, a great person.
“Those are the intangibles that you are looking for. He does a good job and I’m looking forward to working with him. I’m excited to be part of it.”
UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel and Chow have told Craft he will get every opportunity to win the Bruins’ starting job. But he will have to compete against returnees Ben Olson and Pat Cowan, who have received starting time the past two seasons. The Bruins also have freshman Chris Forcier, who redshirted last fall, and Osaar Rasshan.
“They have some good quarterbacks,” Craft said. “They told me it’s going to be an open competition. The best guy will play. That’s all you can ask for, to get your shot.
“I’m just excited about the opportunity to go there. I’m really excited to just be a part of the team.”
Because Craft transferred from San Diego State to Mt. SAC last year, he cannot enroll at UCLA until the summer.
He won’t be allowed to practice with the team in the spring, but he can watch practices and attend meetings. Craft said he will use that time to become familiar with the offense.
Comments
That's Northern Arizona University. My bad !!!!
It's a D1AA school in the Big Sky Conference.
But going to college is about EDUCATION and not just football. And a scholarship to play the game you love is the icing on the cake.
This kid has played football since he was 6. He was special then, and he'll be special where ever he plays.
Posted by: JC SIGNINGS | February 9, 2008 8:08 PM
There are alot of other local JC mid year signees. We need a WHERE ARE THEY NOW.
Former Walnut (04/05) standout, Conrad White(#17) signed with Northern Arizona State (#27) and is already there attending classes. He's been a DB at Fullerton College and did a heck of a job for them two years. He was named to the Mission Conference 2nd Team Defense in 07. He had 11 breakups this season. His interception in this years Inagural Orange County Bowl was key to Fullerton's win over Citrus.
GO LUMBERJACK'S!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS CONRAD... I KNOW YOUR PARENTS ARE PROUD.
Posted by: JC SIGNINGS | February 9, 2008 8:00 PM
Good Question what is or is there a relationship between Crafts father and Coach Chow?you don't come out of nowhwere at a jc
Posted by: yourdaddyshome | February 9, 2008 7:25 PM
craft is riding the coat tails of his dad no doubt about it if it walks like a duck its a duck he is just a good jc quarterback but dad has the connections so hence the ucla deal and thats what it was a deal. oh well ucla will always be chasing usc always.
Posted by: TomTrojan | February 9, 2008 4:58 PM
wowser here is a interesting list from rivals 2005 Crook is on this list amongst this recruiting class and he is running the scout team...come on wowzer you should be ashamed of yourself.
Top 100 in the NATION !!!!!!!
EA SPORTS Elite 11 Quarterback Top 100
NAME HIGH SCHOOL CITY ST HT WT COMMITTED TO:
MacKenzi Adams Union Tulsa OK 6-2 183 VANDERBILT
Chris Alexander Riverview Riverview FL 6-1 192
Zack Asack Xaverian Brothers Westwood MA 6-4 180 DUKE
Zach Barnard Owensboro Catholic Owensboro KY 6-3 202 MARSHALL
Jimmy Barnes Los Alamitos Los Alamitos CA 6-4.5 225 ALABAMA
HARRISON BECK Countryside Clearwater FL 6-1 205 NEBRASKA
Tommy Beecher Concord Concord NC 6-1 199
Paul Blalock Waubonsie Valley Aurora IL 6-0* 190* ILLINOIS
Greg Boone Oscar Smith Chesapeake VA 6-3 258
Andrew Brewer Jenks Jenks OK 6-1.5 195
Cody Brodus Warwick Newport News VA 6-2.5 211
Jarrett Brown Palm Beach Lakes West Palm Beach FL 6-3 192 WEST VIRGINIA
Michael Brusko Emmaus Emmaus PA 6-2 208
Sean Canfield Carlsbad Carlsbad CA 6-3.5 203 OREGON STATE
JAKE CHRISTENSEN Lockport Lockport IL 6-0* 200* IOWA
Ryan Colburn Central Valley Christian Visalia CA 6-2.5 211 FRESNO STATE
JOE COX Independence Charlotte NC 6-1 192 GEORGIA
JONATHAN CROMPTON Tuscola Waynesville NC 6-3 211 TENNESSEE
Jacob Crook Glendora Glendora CA 6-0.5 199
CHASE DANIEL Carroll Southlake TX 6-0.5 214 MISSOURI
Gene Delle Donne Salesianum Wilmington DE 6-5 222 DUKE
Patrick Devenny Granite Bay Granite Bay CA 6-3 212 COLORADO
Casey Dick Allen Allen TX 6-1 196 ARKANSAS
Joey Elliott Harrison Evansville IN 6-2.5 190 PURDUE
Ty Evans Lexington Lexington TN 6-2.5 202
Jorge Fernandez Westminster Christian Miami FL 6-3.5 193
Jason Forcier St. Augustine San Diego CA 6-1* 195*
JONATHAN GARNER Mainland Daytona Beach FL 6-4 206 FLORIDA
Dan Gorski Creighton Prep Omaha NE 6-3 197
Michael Greco Cardinal Gibbons Ft. Lauderdale FL 6-3 199 NC STATE
Matt Grothe Lake Gibson Lakeland FL 6-0.5 190 SOUTH FLORIDA
ARKELON HALL Edison Fresno CA 6-1* 205* WASHINGTON STATE
Vic Hall Gretna Gretna VA 5-9 168 VIRGINIA
Adam Hearns North Penn Lansdale PA 5-11.5 184 SYRACUSE
Carlton Hill Jefferson County Monticello FL 6-2.5 202
Russell Hill Timberline Boise ID 5-11.5 191
Tim Hiller Orrville Orrville OH 6-4 202
Tony Hobson Jim Hill Jackson MS 6-2.5 193
Brett Hodges Winter Springs Winter Springs FL 6-1 176 WAKE FOREST
Tyler Horne Newnan Newnan GA 6-1 185
John Hundley St. Thomas More Lafayette LA 6-2.5 208
Jimmy Johns Brookhaven Brookhaven MS 6-2* 225*
Marcel Jones Simley Inver Grove Heights MN 6-2* 210* MINNESOTA
Blake Joseph Bryan Bryan TX 6-1 182
Michael Kafka St. Rita Chicago IL 6-3* 185*
Kevin Leady Eastwood Pemberville OH 6-1.5 177 BOWLING GREEN
Dan Lefevour Benet Academy Lisle IL 6-2.5 197 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Kevin Lopina De La Salle Concord CA 6-2 198 OREGON STATE
Jabulani Lovelace Tenafly Tenafly NJ 6-2* 190*
Colt McCoy Jim Ned Tuscola TX 6-1 180 TEXAS
Kenny McKinley South Cobb Austell GA 5-11.5 166
Kerry Meier Pittsburg Pittsburg KS 6-2.5 203
Kellen Moriarty Dos Pueblos Goleta CA 5-11* 175*
Domenic Natale Hun School Princeton NJ 6-1.5 188 MICHIGAN STATE
Tony Pastore Sequoyah Canton GA 6-2.5 200
Greg Paulus Christian Brothers Syracuse NY 6-1* 185*
Chris Payne Banneker College Park GA 6-2 195
RYAN PERRILLOUX East St. John Reserve LA 6-2 207 TEXAS
Eric Peterman Sacred Heart-Griffin Springfield IL 6-0.5 199 NORTHWESTERN
Donovan Porterie Memorial Port Arthur TX 6-2.5 188
Josh Portis Taft Woodland Hills CA 6-2.5 183
Sean Price Maine South Park Ridge IL 6-1* 185*
Jared Prince North Kitsap Poulsbo WA 6-2 189
Tavita Pritchard Clover Park Tacoma WA 6-2.5 173
Curtis Pulley Hopkinsville Hopkinsville KY 6-3 186
Osaar Rasshan Garey Pomona CA 6-4 190 UCLA
KYLE REED McClymonds Oakland CA 6-1.5 194 CALIFORNIA
Bodie Reeder Mahomet-Seymour Mahomet IL 6-0.5 208
Reggie Rock Cretin-Derham Hall St. Paul MN 5-9.5 178
Bobby Rome Granby Norfolk VA 5-11 217
Tray Rutland Tri-Cities East Point GA 6-2.5 191
MARK SANCHEZ Mission Viejo Mission Viejo CA 6-3.5 211 USC
Josh Schlueter Phoenix Christian Phoenix AZ 6-2 197
ROB SCHOENHOFT St. Xavier Cincinnati OH 6-5 227 OHIO STATE
Kyle Seevers Lincoln County Panaca NV 6-6* 200* BOISE STATE
Jameel Sewell Hermitage Richmond VA 6-2.5 196 VIRGINIA
Cameron Sexton Scotland Laurinburg NC 6-1 171
Evan Sharpley Marshall Marshall MI 6-2 200 NOTRE DAME
Derek Shaw Oceanside Oceanside CA 6-3* 205* MIAMI
Dustin Sherer Hamilton Heights Arcadia IN 6-2.5 194 WISCONSIN
Ryan Smith Buchanan Clovis CA 6-1 187
Chad Somerville Mason Mason MI 6-1.5 173
Jordan Sorrells Greenville Greenville SC 6-0.5 200
Nathan Sowers Martinsburg Martinsburg WV 6-0.5 188 WEST VIRGINIA
Grant Stucker Ponderosa Parker CO 6-2* 185* COLORADO STATE
Billy Stull Seton-La Salle Pittsburgh PA 6-2 181
Brandon Summers Southfield Southfield MI 6-0 183
Karsten Sween Burroughs Ridgecrest CA 6-1.5 207
Kris Thigpen Taylorsville Taylorsville MS 6-3 191
Cade Thompson Maryville Maryville TN 6-3* 180* NORTH CAROLINA
Chris Todd Elizabethtown Elizabethtown KY 6-2* 200*
WILLIE TUITAMA St. Mary's Stockton CA 6-2 212 ARIZONA
Chris Turner Chaminade West Hills CA 6-3.5 197
Todd Walker Pflugerville Pflugerville TX 6-1* 175*
Clint Walraven Alvarado Alvarado TX 6-0 170 HOUSTON
Eric Ward Southwest DeKalb Decatur GA 6-2 176
Ike Whitaker Northwest Germantown MD 6-4.5 198
Bryant Wilson Dallas Jesuit Dallas TX 6-4.5 177
Turner Wimberly Westlake Austin TX 6-0 178
Nick Worzel Wayne Hills Wayne NJ 6-5 216
(Note: All heights and weights were measured at Nike Football Training Camps unless indicated by an asterix (*). This list is subject to change and will be updated throughout the fall. Players in red are new additions this week and players in all CAPITALS were selected for the 2004 EA SPORTS Elite 11, which was held July 21-25 in Southern California.)
Posted by: TartanPride | February 7, 2008 10:34 AM
Rick Neuheisel was a little known walk on to if you remember.
Posted by: 08 Bruin Grad | February 5, 2008 8:56 AM
Bruin Grad & Wowser what both you guys have missed is in Divsion 1 you have to be invited to be part of the team and what I have heard Coach P played a big part in getting Jacob a shot at a Pac 10 school and UCLA. I hear he has adjusted fine to UCLA and the hardwork that comes with it. I have also heard that he has met with Coach Neuheisel and ALL the QB's will be vying for the job. So it's wide open. I think "Big Ben" breaks down to much and with B-T gone that leaves Cowan and the rest of them to battle it out. I kind of like both of our local boys chances. But being a Tartan I will always pull for a Tartan.
And Wowser just like you said if you have ever met Jacob he has always given back to the kids of Glendora and is just a great young man as is his brother Garrett.
Posted by: TartanPride | February 5, 2008 7:54 AM
Yeah Bruin Grad you are right but we still cant say Lyons and Crook on the same level. If i remember the talk with the UTEP recruiter right he said, "We have 100 guys in the country that throw the ball hard, he is just lacking some key things". I love jacob just as much as any other glendora faithful and i would to him to take a snap but i find it kind of hard to believe.
But he is a great guy, while having time off this year he worked with Glendora young QBs Jeffries and Kaluzny. He even worked with the Tartan Prodigy "6'5 Freshman Gonzales". It was great to see a QB of his talent to come to spring ball to coach 2 8th graders into making them better players. Doing drills, teaching plays and reads , just puts him on another level in my book.
Go Crook!
Posted by: wowzer | February 4, 2008 7:39 PM
wowzer jacob crook was also a D1 commit if i am correct and was headed to unlv before the coaching change there. i just read that doing a google search and there was a article about jacob and what happen at unlv.i maybe wrong but i think he had other choices but chose unlv because it was close to home and some others that were on the team were from glendora also. arizona utep were on his list to name a few if i remember. jacobs girlfriend is hot and i know he will get a shot because if you have seem him lately you know he has been working hard. going to ucla as i do i get a chance to watch some of their practices and he and forcier have been the scout team qbs and yes he still has that amazing arm.
Posted by: 08 Bruin Grad | February 4, 2008 8:12 AM
I like your style Mean Machine.... I'd like to think the great Malone, Spengler, and Aleman. But those are just the freshman coaches. Who do a wonderful job of raising 8th grade boys to well productive men. However, Mark Pasquarella was Jacob Crook's senior year coach, while Lopez led the team to the 3 years prior to Coach P at Glendora. If i remember my history he led them to a CIF game and to a tough loss to Hart in the first round: with a fourth quarter, 3 minute drive and scoring with 18 seconds left in the game, to a D1 QB Tyler Lyon commit who goes to Arizona and is officially the backup for Tiutama. But a strong leader and a great arm will most likely be a good scout team member for the Bruins. (But i would like you guys to know he is dating a beautiful babe from USC which has caused some controversy in the locker room)
But We'll leave the 2008 HS Football season for just then and we'll just return to the fact that Coach P has been productive everywhere he has been and with Strycula as a defensive mastermind , as you all see with the Tartan's dominant defense, the next season will be good for Glendora with their very talented skilled positions.
Posted by: wowzer! | February 3, 2008 11:25 PM
Who ever is saying it's not me obviously doesn't know me. None the less, thanks for the shout out. Just to add to UCLA a few years ago, I by no means think we are winning a national title my first, second or third, I just feel confident and excited about our staff and team that's all. I'm pumped as hell to get started. This will be my last post as some seem to think it's fake anyhow. Good luck to everyone in 2008, I plan to make this a special season!!!
Posted by: KCraft | February 1, 2008 4:41 PM
Check this out, my sons freind is thinking about transfering to a private school to play football (NOT AMAT) and this school offered him a student grand so he doesent have to pay to go to the private school how cool is that. this kid is BAD!!! the only promblem is his dad cant do the drive everyday so he is trying to come up with a different way, he dosent know any of the kids yet.
If the SGV loses this kid for free education at a priviate school on a grant wow. This school is playing Div 1 or is it called PAC 5 football.
Posted by: inside stuff | February 1, 2008 2:07 PM
Whose the biggest loser on this blog?
A: Joe Amat
B: Mean Machine
C: Jcaz
D: All Bishop Amat bloggers
E: Suggest someone
Cast your votes now bloggers
Posted by: VoteNow | February 1, 2008 12:42 PM
ethan must be representing craft, time to start the ncaa investigation
Posted by: mr steinberg | February 1, 2008 7:24 AM
relax ethan and go take your meds
Posted by: TakeYourMedsEthan | January 31, 2008 11:46 PM
KEVIN CRAFT HAS NOT POSTED ON THIS BLOG/PAGE.
WHOEVER IS POSTING AS KEVIN CRAFT NEEDS TO STOP!
YOU ARE A JERK FOR TRYING TO PULL OFF SUCH GARBAGE!
Posted by: Ethan | January 31, 2008 9:28 PM
In regards to the following comment:
"I heard that Mt SAC is getting the QB that played for Ventura High School 2 years ago, he is the kid that passed for over 10K yards in high school the first in California to do this he went to Ol Miss but wants to come back home.This is a good pick for Mt SAC. Fred this kis is Bad...."
Strictly a rumor. The kid from Ole' Miss is at College of the Canyons currently enrolled in courses. Where he will play is a big mystery.
Posted by: Ethan | January 31, 2008 9:05 PM
In regards to the following comment:
"I heard that Mt SAC is getting the QB that played for Ventura High School 2 years ago, he is the kid that passed for over 10K yards in high school the first in California to do this he went to Ol Miss but wants to come back home.This is a good pick for Mt SAC. Fred this kis is Bad...."
Strictly a rumor. The kid from Ole' Miss is at College of the Canyons currently enrolled in courses. Where he will play is a big mystery.
Posted by: Ethan | January 31, 2008 9:04 PM
his coach is the one with one league championship in the past ten years and a bunch of one and outs
Posted by: CO OWNS YOU | January 31, 2008 3:13 PM
I heard that Mt SAC is getting the QB that played for Ventura High School 2 years ago, he is the kid that passed for over 10K yards in high school the first in California to do this he went to Ol Miss but wants to come back home.This is a good pick for Mt SAC. Fred this kis is Bad....
Posted by: inside stuff | January 31, 2008 8:51 AM
Kevin your enthusiasm is honorable but don't get ahead of yourself. UCLA is at least a few years away from being competitive with USC. I like the moves of Chow and Neuheisel but its going to take them a few years to get things going. Good luck to you at UCLA.
Posted by: UCLA a few years away | January 30, 2008 11:21 PM
It's all about the WITCH CRAFT! Here he comes USC watch out!
Posted by: Westwood Gem | January 30, 2008 2:58 PM
any local lineman in the pac ten next year?
Posted by: La Puente Bruin | January 30, 2008 2:29 PM
The main reason I chose UCLA over Hawaii and SMU is for coach Chow. I am beyond excited to work with him, and I have great confidence that I can show the best out there. Competition is also why I chose the Bruins. I know the Q.B.'s already there will push me to be better. I'd like to thank my friends for believing in me and I look foward to someday competing for the National Championship (yes, I said it). Watch out Trojans, there is a new L.A. king about to be crowned in the future!
Posted by: KCraft | January 30, 2008 2:29 PM
La Puente Bruin ...???
La Puente Coach ?
Posted by: Seacrest OUT ! | January 30, 2008 1:39 PM
Who was Crook's High School Coach?
That's a soft ball question I know but I just like to hear it anyway.
Anyone?
Posted by: Mean Machine | January 30, 2008 1:32 PM
THIS YOUNG MAN CAN DO IT ALL!
GREAT PICK UP FOR UCLA....
Posted by: GO BRUINS | January 30, 2008 10:46 AM
la puente here is a post from CBS Sportlines Bruin Blog by a poster Bruwins:
Rick Neuheisel has so many QBs to make an interesting competition this coming Spring practice. There is another QB that you forgot to mention, Jacob Crook. He's a walk-on transferred out New Hampshire and he played well running the scout team with Forcier. If he didn't have to sit out for his NCAA mandatory, he would have been the 3rd back-up instead of Bethel-Thompson. Neuheisel will have Olson, Cowan, Rasshan, Forcier, Bethel-Thompson, Crook, and Crissman if he signed.
I don't mind having Olson to lead us this fall if he improved his game under Neuheisel's tutelage. Who knows maybe Ben can have a Drew Olson type of a Senior season. Otherwise, Neuheisel should give the underclassmen a shot to be our starter. I agreed with you in regard to Rasshan. He should be moved back as WR.
Posted by: Cubbie | January 30, 2008 9:09 AM
So that leaves Olsen, Cowan, Glendoras Jacob Crook, Forcier, Rasshan and possibly that kid from Huntington Beach who is a senior the name escapes me and this guy. Bethel-Thompson was offered a scholarship to Sacramento and has left the UCLA program. Crook apparently has a little bit of history with Chow during recruiting. And talk about recruiting Crook has had a ride UNLV, New Hampshire and now UCLA. That's a interesting story in its self.
Posted by: La Puente Bruin | January 30, 2008 8:33 AM
I guess UCLA needs bounce-back qbs from San Diego State to win some games.
Posted by: Trojans | January 30, 2008 8:06 AM
Craft already has D1 experience from when he was at San Diego State. He's not as raw as you think. He should be able to make the transition to Westwood easily.
Posted by: AztecsAlum | January 29, 2008 11:29 PM
Ethan, I agree. Good call....
Posted by: Been there | January 29, 2008 10:10 PM
Message to all good high school players who do not make it to a four-year university on scholarship for whatever reason...
Mt. SAC IS WHERE YOU BELONG! They are the best; do not be intimidated...good things happen to players who work hard, and you can be next!
Mt. SAC averages 20-25 kids per year who sign scholarship papers!
Posted by: Ethan | January 29, 2008 9:44 PM
It's great stories like these that puts hope into high school students that because they didn't go to a D1 school doesn't mean that can't make it going through the next level.
Posted by: Brock Lesnar | January 29, 2008 7:40 PM
Good pick-up. We need a good experienced quarterback.
Posted by: Jaime | January 29, 2008 7:01 PM
he COULD be a viable body if UCLA goes through its injury phase as they did this year...lets hope it doesnt get to this though...
Posted by: THEHenry | January 29, 2008 6:50 PM