Signing Day story
There was a time when Signing Day meant no more to UCLA than a day to sit back and reflect on the wins and losses of the recruiting period, a day of relative ease and relaxation.
Things are a bit different now.
Last year, the Bruins snagged running back Damien Thigpen, offensive tackle Xavier Su'a-Filo, offensive guard Stan Hasiak and wide receiver Randall Carroll on signing day.
With seven key recruits still up for grabs, Rick Neuheisel and Co. will be glued to the television, as player after player makes his decision known on live TV.
Dietrich Riley, the No. 16 safety from St. Francis, is going live on ESPNU at 1:30 p.m.
Anthony Jefferson, the No. 15 cornerback from Los Angeles Cathedral, is up on Prime Ticket at noon.
Ricky Heimuli, the No. 10 defensive tackle from Brighton, Utah, starts things off on ESPNU at 9:30 a.m.
The UCLA coaching staff will watch with bated breath.
But the fact that the Bruins are even in the mix for these guys is a change.
Put Neuheisel in a pantsuit, give him a snappy comeback and air him on TNT; Kyra Sedgwick isn't the only closer.
"Neuheisel loves a challenge," Scout.com west region recruiting manager Brandon Huffman said. "To him, the living room is his favorite place. To be able to sell mom and dad on the virtues of UCLA is something he thrives on. He loves that part.
"You have a lot of UCLA fans who panic because they didn't have a lot of guys early on. 'What's taking so long?' But it used to be UCLA would have to spend the last four months trying to hold on to recruits; now they're planting the seed early and spending the next four months going after them."
While the Bruins have strong verbal commitments from top prospects such as Oaks Christian's Malcolm Jones and Loyola's Anthony Barr, closing strong hadn't been a hallmark until recently. Now, in addition to Riley, Jefferson and Heimuli, UCLA is waiting on word from St. Bonaventure center Giovanni Di Poalo, Huntington Beach Edison linebacker Jordan Zumwalt and Crenshaw linebacker Hayes Pullard.
The class of 2007 was really the turning point, with local commits from Brian Price and Akeem Ayers, but the class of '08 was the tide-turner.
That class landed All-American Rahim Moore, starting quarterback Kevin Prince, and nine others in the two-deep rotation as underclassmen.
"Really the class of '08 would be the one that you would say that," Huffman said. "You've got your starting QB from there, Nelson Rosario, Cory Harkey, Jeff Baca, Rahim Moore, eight or nine starters. This is a by-product of the last two classes. Elite players can and will pick UCLA. If they can land Owa and five of these guys (today), then this class, defensively is as good a class as they've ever had."
The Owa he refers to is David Douglass (Portland) High defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Scout.com's eighth-rated defensive end. Odighizuwa said late last week that he was completely torn between UCLA, Oregon State and Nebraska. He would be considered a major coup for the coaching staff, which covets his speed-rush capabilities, although they've been working diligently on him for months.
"Things have changed dramatically in terms of players, the talent level, and the aggressiveness in which they're recruiting them," Huffman said. "It really shifted. They offered Akeem Ayers and Brian Price, and that was UCLA's first victory. Then next year you have Rahim Moore and Aaron Hester. That was the first time you saw them say, 'We're going to go after these guys and we're not going to settle.'"
Speaking of unsettled, for as much as Neuheisel and the UCLA coaching staff will be sweating out today, Bruin fans might even be more nervous.
Last year represented a true changing of the guard.
This year, any bit of recruiting news is chewed up and swallowed even as the next piece is being cooked.
"I can tell you this much," said UCLA alum Tenny Mirzayan of Glendale, "I NEVER even knew when signing day was until last year."
OK, who's Tenny Mirzayan, and how can I get quoted by Jon?
'We're going to go after these guys and we're not going to settle.'
:)
Thanks for posting this, Jon. Quick question...
If you have unrevealable inside info on a few recruits (having indicated that they will sign w/UCLA, but not wanting that info out in the open), how do you write a story like the above? That is, let's say Owa is one of the "few", how do you write the speculative para when you know he's not "really" still undecided between three schools? Do you worry about suggesting information to readers that is not as accurate as your own understanding? This isn't an accusation -- I'm just curious.
That's it. Tenny is no longer aloud to come to our tailgate party. How can she not know when signing day is?!?
Because it takes years to develop talent. If you have the #1 recruiting class, in lets say 2007, you won't see those recruits actually play to their full potential until maybe 2010. You troll!!!!
I think he is both
GO BRUINS.
I meant to say "allowed" and not "aloud" in my earlier post.
Hey are you kidding me. Also we got seventh this year ahead of arizona state, washington, and washington state.
Sure successful teams have freshmen that make an impact, but they are playing alongside of experienced and developed juniors and seniors. Lets pay attention.
"Are you kidding me" -
Are you kidding me??? He's not saying that no freshman can come in and make an impact. We've had freshman making impacts the last few years. Price, Prince, Moore, XSF, they all played very well as freshman. If you look at the best freshman performances in the country though those players ALWAYS have a solid group of other players around them. Next year there will be significant improvement, and it will come against a VERY difficult schedule. The following year if we aren't competing for a pac-10 title we should probably re-evaluate our outlook. Until then, have some faith
And so now high school footballers are t.v. stars. Gee whiz, the human race is making a lot of progress, isn't it?
As I have said before, the top football colleges have become the NFL's farm league.
And regrettably, most if not all of these kids think they will make it to the pros, because they were the big man on campus all through high school
The truth of the matter is that less than 1% will ever see a nickel at the pro level.
And these young men are usually not scholars, taking on a light academic load at best, so what job future do they have?
And dare I say it, but I smell the centuries- old "Plantation" prejudice at work here. Or does it not bother you that most fans are White Men who are rooting on for the most part Black men-- Black men who are sacrificing their bodies and their future health for the White Man?
Didn't think so, didn't think it would bother you much; actually, I didn't think it would even occur to y'all.
LAWYER JOHN
"Are you kidding me"
There you go posting all kinds of "insider information" about Pullard yet you kinda sound a lil on the outside right about now...
The biggest issue in terms of freshman making impacts is physical maturity and on-field experience. I think you are confused in saying freshman routinely make big impacts in college football, although it is a bit more common in College Basketball. John Wall might be the best college basketball player in the country right now, and I don't think there was a single freshman in the country even close to that status in CFB last year.
Rahim was able to get on the field and make an impact in year 1, but he made an even bigger one in year 2. I couldn't be more excited for year 3... The same can be said for Xavier Suafilo, so it's really too bad about the mission. Hopefully he comes back to us in 2 years...
Furthermore, a hyper-talented freshman might be able to make an impact on an otherwise sound team, but it would be even more challenging to do the same on a team in general disarray.
I don't have the balls to put my name to any post therefore nothing i post is credible!!!
Tomorrow is going to be so exciting! I really hope things go our way!
lawyer john, be real,
the only race that matters is the human race. stop creating a racial gap that doesnt even exist. and btw the color spectrum is endless so in reality there is no difference between the athletes on the field and the fans in the stands, who happen to be the ones paying for them to showcase there talents for nfl prospects.. you are such a d bag and i hate talking shit behind a computer, but its the only way you know how to communicate. stop talking shit on here. contribute in a postive way or dont contribute at all.... dont give me your free speech bs.
Lawyer John --
If it doesn't bother you, why should it bother any of us?
Cully:
The Freshman @ Oregon was a big impact for the Pac 10 Champs. I see UCLA gaining momentum bringing in some talent, Bruins will be better this fall.
BUT, Both USC/UCLA will not compete with the Ducks this Fall.
Oregon will win the Pac 10 & be in the mix for the NC
GO DUCKS!
Can we get a commitment from Jon to be up early tomorrow?
Oregon will not win the Pac 10 next year. Look at their road schedule...no Pac 10, no NC...sorry...
Did I hear as good a class as we've had? I think they and everyone forgets 1998 and Ucla's # 1 recruiting class spearheded by none other than Toledo. Also the year we got robbed with no instant replay in the Miami game. Go Bruins!!
If Woods goes to SC as expected, the Bruins would be ok if the can get Anthony Jefferson to play corner against him.
Go UCLA! Ready for the day in Texas.
Ready in Texas. GO BRUINS!
Just got email from BRO (Bruin Report Online) it say Jordan Zumwalt has committed to Ucla!! We just need a few more guys! Heck yeah! Go Bruins!!!