Oaks Christian defensive tackle Cassius Marsh flipped on LSU and committed to UCLA last night.

In more ways than one, this is massive (besides the implications of Brian Dohn’s prediction):

First off, Marsh is big and quick enough to compete for playing time immediately on UCLA’s thin defensive line. Marsh was an absolute beast for Oaks Christian – I saw him play four games, and each game, he was a man among boys. His size is obviously going to be less of a strength in college…but his hand speed and lateral quickness are absolutely striking.

Secondly, this says incredible things about Rick Neuheisel’s closing skills. Fans saw it last year with Su’a-Filo, Carroll, Presley, etc. Now, Neuheisel really seems to be turning the corner and hitting top speed. Marsh, on top of the recent commitment of Anthony Barr, not only helps to continue solidifying what is undoubtedly UCLA’s best class in recent memory, but it also proves that Neuheisel won’t give up on guys. That’s one of the things that made Pete Carroll great.

Thirdly, it proves the sway one teammate can have over another. Malcolm Jones wanted Marsh as a Bruin and he got him. Certainly these things are rare – how often does the same school have the No. 3 running back and No. 8 defensive tackle in a class? But it also speaks to the program’s ascension.

Here’s Marsh’s recruiting profile: Marsh