Answers, part VIII

Here is the eighth set of answers:

Is UCLA interested in JC DT Zach Masch? An interview I read seemed to indicate that he is really interested in UCLA.
Not really. UCLA has shown him interest, and if Warner falls through UCLA may re-visit him, but at this point my sources don’t see it happening.

Have you ever heard a player or coach say that an official visit to a school or a home visit did not go well?
No, at least not right after it happens. Wait a year or two until the player is enrolled and playing at another school, and then he may say something. It is why I don’t call kids after a visit to write about how it went.

Did the staff feel pretty invincible after Presley and the other recruits committed, and then humbled after the last few decommits? Or how did it affect them, if at all?
I wouldn’t say invincible, but like anything else, when things are going well the confidence is high. I think the de-commitments were a jolt of reality that there is a lot of work to do, and results on the field are important.

Are the reports on other sites, that certain members of the OL have bulked up considerably, true? Have you heard that of any DL guys (Damien Holmes, David Carter, Datone Jones) have also bulked up substantially?
Yes, I have talked to the coaches and some players, and there is added strength. But it is early in the workout process, so plenty more work needs to be done. And, other schools are working their tails off, so UCLA better get bigger and stronger.

Will current verbal commit Jason Allmond stay at fullback, or does the staff plan to make him a DT?
I keep hearing he will remain at fullback. It is also a position of need.

What was going on at Spaulding Field on Tuesday? It seemed like the whole football team was out there doing something they couldn’t have been practicing could they? Or is it ok to do that as long as no coaches are present?
What part of the day was it. If it was early, it could have been the offseason conditioning workouts. Coaches are allowed to be out there for those. They also have begun the offseason throwing program, but coaches are not allowed to attend those.

Any new info to report on the hunt for a DC? Any names we have not yet heard about?
Nope. I keep hearing Chuck Bullough is the leader.

Why are Neuheisel and Co. recruting so many DBs? Are they planning to move some of these kids to linebacker?
I believe they view it as an area of need. Upgrading the talent level across the board is needed. And competition makes players better in practice, and UCLA needs to get more players to compete in practice. I’m sure one or two could eventually move to linebacker, but that is not the plan right now.

Do you see Michael Phillip sticking with his commitment to OSU?
I do because I think he is a man of his word. It doesn’t mean UCLA and Stanford won’t pressure him to change, but he took his time with this decision.