The Scouting Guru has been all over the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, and like always, he’s offered to share his thoughts, free of charge. Don’t hate, enjoy it for what it’s worth, which is one man’s opinion on the talent in the San Gabriel Valley. Today he offers his post-season high school football thoughts, and the latest in the football recruiting wars.
It’s tough to recruit on the west coast if you are coaching in either the WAC or the MWC. Kids can say that they like you, but once the Pac-10 comes calling, kids tend to opt for those schools more than the MWC or the WAC. But, these guys do a really good job year in and year on. So here is a look at some team in the conferences and what kids they took from the SGV and the IE…
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1. UNLV – Once you meet HC Mike Sanford, you can’t help but cheer for the guy to succeed. They also have one of the best assistant coaches in the business of the SGV’s very own Vic Shealy (who once was the coach at APU and had a really nice run there). As for their class this year, I really like their class a lot. They took kid that were second or third tier players on a lot of boards and were able to get them to come to Vegas. The kid that we think that is going to have a huge impact for them is Vista Murrieta Running Back Bradlee Randle (#15). When you watch VM on film this year, he was the best player on the field for them this year. I think that the Pac missed out on this guy and he gives the Rebels that game changing player that they are looking for. We also think that Citrus Hill QB Caleb Herring (#22) is a big time sleeper that has to be followed. He is a dual threat QB and he caught the eye last summer at the Nike Elite 11 QB workout in Las Vegas. The other verbal that they got is Rancho Cucamonga WR Irstad Bolden (#23). Fresno State was the first to offer the kid and UNLV was able to get him late in the recruiting process. CO fans can remember this guy having a nice game against the Chargers in week 5. According to recruiting websites, their other verbal’s grade out very well. This is one of the better recruiting class for this school.
2. Colorado State – The Rams don’t have the big name kids, but they took a kid that was an absolute sleeper and will make a big impact with them in LB Jared Koster (#29) from Norco. Every tape that we saw of Norco, this kid was making play after play after play. Just for that reason alone, along with some decent verbals from kids on the west coast, the Rams held their own this year.
3. New Mexico – New staff down in Las Crucas and they went to work right away and was able to lure Etiwanda RB Vince Minor #28 away from San Diego State. We gotta chance to see him on the field twice against Glendora and Charter Oak and he was another player that was clearly the best player on the field for the Eagles. And speaking of QB, look for Etiwanda junior QB Angel Santiago to get some attention next year. I really love him competitiveness.
4. New Mexico State – Coach DeWayne Walker is calling the shots now and trust me when I tell you, this school will improve immediately with the change in coaches down there. Not only does “DeWalk” know his x’s and o’s, he knows how to evaluate talent. That is why we love the move he made in getting Ayala WR David Quiroga. You want to see the next Wes Welker, this is the kid right here. He runs great routes, he’s tough…in other words, he’s a football player. In checking with many recruiting services, they have given a thumbs up to their recruiting class, look for this school to make some noise in the next couple of years.
5. Fresno State – Coach Pat Hill does a great job in getting the types of players that he thinks will fit into their system. No doubting that in them getting Eisenhower WR Alex Jefferies and Etiwanda LB Ibe Nduka. Both kids are sleeper kids that can find their way onto their special teams squads next year. Just another solid recruiting class for the Bulldogs.
6. Utah – From a national perspective, this is the best class in the MWC. They have done a good job in maximizing their exposure from their stellar effort in the Sugar Bowl. Now, from a local perspective…we have some issues here. They were able to get a commitment from Craig Payne (DE) out is Colony HS and is a very much a reach with us. Just didn’t see it in his junior or senior tape. Usually, Utah doesn’t make many mistakes, but I just don’t see with this guy at all.
7. Air Force – The Academy usually gets a kid from the SGV every so often. Last year, they got a diamond in the rough in South Hills DE Kebin Umodu. This year’s diamond in the rough is Diamond Ranch LB Kyle Lengyel. In every film that we’ve seen on him, the kid is making plays. He have to play either outside LB or SS at the next level, but we think that he’ll do just fine over at the AF.
8. Idaho – Well is you are fans of these next two schools, you’re not going to like our takes on their classes. We’re a little less harsh on the Vandals, as they were able to get a commitment from a kid that many in the conference just feel asleep on in Redlands East Valley DB Gary Walker (#35). I think that he has a nice upside and will fit in just nicely. But, we are not very high on Corona Santiago offensive lineman Jordan Johnson and San Dimas lineman Kyle Salm. Both are big kids but they have little upside. We just don’t see the toughness that you would like out of players their side. Now, we can be wrong on these guys, but – we’ll see in the next couple of years.
