Jordon James commits to UCLA

Sorry, spedjones, I guess eight calls to Don Lugo is not enough. I'll just have to keep trying for you.

Good job boys

GREAT NEWS!! WELCOME TO THE FAMILY JJ!

so, the questions then become: (i) does this finalize Barr to ND, and (ii) who's going to transfer?

Jon, I hope you get to James quicker than you did Uko's coach.

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!! Where are all the LOSER Neuheisel detractors now? Hopefully this won't dissuade Barr from coming also. Looks like the makings of another STRONG class. I guess Greg Biggins was correct. He had been reporting that James was a silent commit.

I think the end of this season will tell a lot, sped. If Coleman performs well and Jetski sits or doesn't contribute much, I wonder how he'll feel. After speaking with Knox several times on the issue, I don't think he'd leave. Thigpen shouldn't even be considered a running back; he's an ideal flex play - bump him to the slot, outside, kick return, wildcat, occasional handoff.

Malcolm Jones + Jordon James!!!!!! WOW !!! Great job Coach Neu. GO BRUINS!!!

What a HUGE pick up. Scouts, Inc. over at ESPN actually has him ranked much higher than Malcolm Jones at #19 in the country overall. High profile player who is also a UA All American.

If we can get a few more commits from the group of Powell, Uko, Stills, Pullard, Christian, Heimulu, Thomas, Shirley, Oliniyan, Odighizuwa and keep Jefferson, this would be a HUGE class.

I'm betting Pullard or Shirley could be our next commits. I'm hearing they might be silents.

Should be 80! Or go sit on his doorstep. That said, who's going to split from the current ranks with JJ and MJ coming in?

It's a stretch to call Biggins correct here. His post about UCLA slow playing him, which was eventually pulled, was way off base. Either that or Biggins was intentionally misleading everyone and trying to build suspense for the ESPN announcement...

Anthony Barr has told the Sporting News that he is down to only UCLA and ND. With the turmoil CW is going through, I like our chances. Here is the link.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/TheRecruitnik/entry/view/40924/sn100s_barr_down_to_two

How is that a crowded backfield? Ramirez might not be back, Thigpen is not a true RB, more of a hybrid 3rd down back and a WR, and Coleman probably ends up as a FB. That leaves Franklin and Knox, who could be Juniors when Jones/James are redshirt freshmen. That's hardly crowded...

Hey John I don't think spedjones was giving you a hard time for a lack of effort or attempts to call people. It was probably the statements that you make that you hope to get someone or another on the phone tonight with no delivery.

Instead of telling us you hope to get someone on the phone or have a call into someone why don't you just wait until you get them on the phone and tell us what they said.

You telling us about who you hope to get on the phone or who you have called is just noise, not news. Plus this way you won't lose credibility if the call never happens after you announce it.

Can't really see Ramirez (senior next year, right?) or Coleman (Junior?) leaving, but Ramirez may not see the ball much for a variety of reasons. I think if Thigpen changed positions or accepted a flex role, like Jon suggests, then there is plenty of room for the others. And btw let's face it, as much as we love the commits and the future for these guys, we have a track record of Neu/Chow playing freshmen sparingly.

that's how I see it aswell Dr. Bruin
Barr will be a LB

hopefully ND takes another loss so the CW firings keep going... that will help a lot with Barr

Ramirez will join D. Johnson up at Cal Poly SLO next year, book it.

Anon @ 5:59:

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

Is that you spedjones?

Again, another reason why you shouldn't allow Anon comments Jon.

Hence the word "HOPE" pal, look it up. How can he guarantee anything? Maybe Jon would wait until he gets someone on the phone and then tell us what what they said if people like you and spedjones stopped bugging the Shhhh out of him and asking incessantly. I don't understand how he losses ANY credibility if he can't get a hold of somebody and they don't call him back.

Somewhere Brian Dohn is smiling and enjoying Rutgers half time lead over USF.

Anonymous posters are a bunch of A-holes! Keep up the good work, Jon, and don't let those guys (or Bruinfaithful, when in his more negative moods) get you down.

Lavmousse:

I agree. The fact the Ramirez was EVER considered our "best" back, speaks to the sorry state and lack of depth of our program. Would Ramirez even play for any other Pac-10 team?

Have to agree with VB and Dr. Bruin. Thigpen and Ramirez really dont factor in. You really have to look at our 3 current RB and the J and J boys. If they cant crack the depth chart as frosh then they redshirt and there is two or three years separation between them. This is no problem.

If Barr comes he will probably be a LB/ATH. Notre Dame has the exact same situation at running back as well.

James and Jones. Kind of reminds me of Gaston Green and Eric Ball. And maybe in a different way, James McAlister and Kermit Johnson. That Green and Ball recruiting class was a good one. Maybe this one is shaping up the same way. TerryD was a very good recruiter, and I think Rick is too. This is UCLA Football.

please, BF, gimme some credit. No anon posts for me. I expect a lot from this free blog, not just "I hope to talk to him if he answers when I call once or twice."

I love it. The more competition the better.

If kids transfer, so be it. Good riddance. If they don't want to compete, step up, and EARN their carries...I don't want them on the team.

How about we all tell Jon what we do for a living? That way he can give us unsolicited advice on how to do our jobs better.

spedjones:

Then I apologize, must have been your alter ego or some hanger on.

In any event, the man said he called 8 times and left messages. How many more times can he call? We don't want to spook the kid.

I agree the more competition the better. We can't let these kids get too comfortable. However, I don't see Coleman as a FB. Jayson Allmond is our FB of the future. That kid is a freaken Sledge Hammer. You guys forgot about Dalton Hilliard. He was pretty decent in HS.

Great comments from SPEDJONES and BRUINFAITHFUL...Both of you are "right on!" LAVSMOUSSE- I take exception to the derogatory comment regarding C-Ram, let's remember he is a member of our team, and a kid that wanted to be a BRUIN! Though he may lack the talent of other backs we wanted or have recently received commitments from, he plays FOR US!!! Hold off on the bashing of our guys...

RC3UCLA,
My comment was not meant to bash C. Ramirez, but to state a fact, that as a senior next year, if he wants to see the field, he would be best served to room with D.J. up at SLO. D.J. transferred as a senior, with a slight nudge from the staff, and is playing and doing quite well. C.Ram ain't in the staffs plans for next year, end of story.

Move Coleman to fullback - Thigpen becomes a Darren Sprowels type back - Ramirez transfers

Plenty of room for the incoming frosh. You could also pull a move coach Donahue used to use - move back up RBs to linebacker and increase the speed on D.

the future is looking good, this class is shaping up well. Dalton Hilliard is playing safety i believe. no room in the running game for him.
I agree, i don't see C-Ram getting much playing time next season, but we could be wrong. maybe he continues to rehab and gets his speed back and has a huge senior season.
as far as transfers go, these things happen. No one is missing those backs that transferred from the team last year now! Andre who?

Lavmousse:

I agree. The fact the Ramirez was EVER considered our "best" back, speaks to the sorry state and lack of depth of our program. Would Ramirez even play for any other Pac-10 team?