Huffman on James
It seems UCLA's 8-13 record under head coach Rick Neuheisel is not scaring away big-time recruits.
Jordon James is next on that list.
The Corona running back verbally committed to UCLA on Thursday night over Cal, Arizona, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Washington, among other suitors.
Where fans see disappointment, potential Bruins see opportunity, as Neuheisel has shown no hesitation in ushering in a youth movement.
"I'm not surprised at all," said Brandon Huffman, Scout.com's West Coast Regional Recruiting Manager. "UCLA is one of those schools that can sell the youth movement. That's why even with eight wins in two years, they're able to recruit. They're showing that they're going to play young guys, even true freshmen. Kids are seeing, 'Hey, I can come in and play, I can contribute.'"
James provides the Bruins with a shifty speed back to pair with fellow incoming freshman back Malcolm Jones of Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, who is more known for his power and stamina.
They are set to join a crowded backfield that already includes sophomore Derrick Coleman, redshirt freshmen Johnathan Franklin and Milton Knox and freshman Damien Thigpen.
"James is speed," Huffman said. "Yeah, they have speed with Thigpen and Franklin, but I don't think it's between-the-tackle speed so much. That's where James and Jones come in - they're not afraid to take on the contact, and they can put a move on a linebacker. I saw (James) play last Friday and he had two stop-and-go moves on a linebacker and he was just gone."
Perhaps more importantly than the immediate dividends UCLA will reap from players such as James, Jones and Mater Dei offensive guard Chris Ward, the No. 5 offensive guard in the country, are the in-roads the team is building both regionally and by school.
Huffman said that snagging a star player from the Inland Empire, an emerging football hotbed, is key, as is the interest being shown from major powerhouses such as Oaks Christian and Mater Dei.
"It's crucial - when you look at the schools that are constantly cranking out the talent, it's Mater Dei, Oaks Christian, Corona Centennial, where they got (freshman wide receiver) Ricky Marvray," Huffman said. "It's crucial to get some of those players as consistently as they can. It shows the younger guys that they have a former teammate at a future school. It makes it acceptable to go to UCLA again. When you look at Mater Dei and Oaks Christian, it took some time to get those guys, but this could be the start of a run they'll have at those schools."
very insightful! I have shared your sentiment on being able to recruit the "big names" out of the traditional power-houses for YEARS!!! More so, the lack of landing guys BRUIN fans have wanted for years...CRN is doing an excellent job of recruiting the talent we need to bring us back to prominence, despite the rough start we've had. This is the true testament of the belief in our program we all want to see...GO BRUINS!!! Jordan James- Welcome to the program! Who's next?!
After all those miserable years of Dorrells's recruiting, this seems surreal. Neu could sell time shares to Bernie Madoff.
Rick has yet to recruit an elite DT. Two would be ideal. That should be next on the shopping list.
Another powerhouse OL or two like Ward wouldnt hurt either. Someone has to block for these studs... especially if X decides to go on his Mormon mission anytime soon (lets hope he puts that off until after school).
In lieu of two elite DTS, I'd take any two players able to man the DE positions like Davis and Hickman in 2006. They may already be at UCLA for all we know. Anyone able to get pressure on the QB from the edge. Something in the 240, 4.5 40 neighborhood.
I wish people would stop this X going on a mission crap. It's not going to happen. X is not going on a mission, end of story.
That being said, these two backs are by FAR the best backs we have gotten since MJD. They have the size and speed to run between the tackles, obvious shortcomings this decade.
Here's a big F U from Neu and the entire Bruin Nation to all the pundits, including Brian Dohn, who said you couldn't consistently recruit top talent to UCLA.
We Neu we could, we just had to believe, because if you don't believe, you can't make somebody else believe.
DON'T STOP BELIEVING!!!!
Give me a break, Anon.
"Neu doesn't know how to develop talent." Seriously? I don't think anyone who takes a look at the absolute disaster that the offensive line was last year and comapres that to this year's offensive line, which is *much* improved, can argue that the UCLA coaching staff doesn't know how to 'develop talent'.
SHUT UP AND GO AWAY ANON!
The tides are turning in Southern California!
Again, another Anon troll who knows NOTHING about FB.
REALLY, are you blind? Have you not seen Prince get better as the season goes on? I can only imagine where he and we would be at had he not broken his jaw. Have you not seen even Craft play MUCH better this year? He freaken threw 20 INTs last year and 6 pick 6s. Have you not seen Nelson Rosario blossom? Have you not seen the RBs improve? Have you not seen the OL?
This same nimwit will not return to eat crow, but rather revel in our success and claim he knew it all along. Go get a screen name, so we can remind you when you are proven wrong. It's easy to lurk in the shadows in anonymity.
Neu could sell excrement to a septic tank!
Anon Adjustable Rate Trojans - Lets hope you don't choke away homecoming to Stanford or you will be developing your stellar talent in Sun Bowl. Burrrr
now, don't get me wrong...I love UCLA's move on recruiting under Rick. I don't, however, think we're close to taking over SC's role any time soon. That said, Anon, like most SC fans this year, is in a bit of denial. Your Rivals cite is correct, but Scout and ESPN rankings favor the Bruins here (the fact that it's even being discussed is proof that Rick's doing his job). You'll also lose Telfer and Scroggins before too long, and appear set to lose out on Shaw and Powell any day now to the Gators. It'll only get more painful when UCLA takes Pullard, Shirley and Uko as well. Even if it's not by UCLA's doing, SC's run is near the end.