Now(r) What?
With Mater Dei's Victor Blackwell verbally committing to USC over the weekend, UCLA's recruiting focus will likely shift to Devon Blackmon and Devin Lucien, at least in-state. The more I see of Lucien, who was heavily hyped by Scout.com's Brandon Huffman in our most recent conversation, the more I like. Looks like a big, tough kid.
UCLA does have offers out to seven more out-of-state wideouts, including Kasen Williams out of Skyline in Washington, but Rick Neuheisel hasn't had any luck with out-of-state WR recruits so far.
After reading your preview, I'm not feeling so confident...We need super WR's for 2011!!!
O-line, O-line, O-line, O-line!!!! UCLA needs offensive line-men, there are plenty of receivers to go around!!!
DT, DT, DT, DT !!!!!! UCLA needs Defensive Tackle...
I saw some youtube highlights of Victor Blackwell and while I hate to say it now that he's going to be a trOJie...kid looks LEGIT! Fantastic pick up by SUC. SUC re-loaded with WR with this year's class coming in and he still verballed to SUC that short after getting the offer for the following year.
Battle UCLA faces with some kids is that for as long as they can remember SUC has dominated. They weren't old enough to remember the 90's when UCLA owned the toejams and the Colisuem was half full under Paul "can't" Hackett.
UCLA fans can say what they want about USC...their head coach is regarded as a total lying doucebag by everyone in the country except SC fans...their program is going to be hit by the NCAA for more violations than can be counted...but until UCLA beats SC on the field it'll be an uphill battle.
If, I repeat, IF UCLA beats USC on the field this year then the playing field will start to even out with respect to recruiting.
NCAA penalties + UCLA win in 2010 = Real Fall of Troy
how can sc continue to stack players at certain positions even while sanctions loom? COLD HARD CASH..
I feel like this was definitely a blow considering he had us in his top 2, then went with USC who wasn't even one of his supposed "high interest" schools. (Oh how much one offer can change things) BUT this could end up being kind of a blessing in disguise. Now that they have Woods, Prater, Ambles, Butler and now Blackwell- could we start to really turn on the jets and go after Farmer? He has been acclaimed as the best player in CA by many people, and now that SC has such a backed up depth chart at wide-out, I think we could really make a play for him. Let's see if Rick can get it together and go after him.
Verbally committed? Who cares! Nothing is set in stone until written down on signing day with the closer, coach Neuheisel, around!
@ Jacob: As a USC fan I am not too worry about USC losing Farmer b/c from my understanding he is very close to Woods and both are planning to play together.
The one thing that makes me curious is if USC brought in Blackwell with the condition that both he and Wittek seal the deal with the Black Mamba. Assuming everything plays out Wittek (or Kessler) will have Farmer (assuming he commits to USC) and Blackwell as his WRs and the Black Mamba in the backfield, the USC offense looks very promising and I am not sure how UCLA can counter considering the low scholarship figures for the upcoming period.
verbal shmerbal...
Gilligan, I appreciate you giving me your side without any of the stupid U$C or fuckla crap. I completely agree that the blackwell offer completely had to do with his connection to Wittek and Thomas. That doesn't change the fact that their roster is flooded with WR's. I understand that Farmer is a HUGE 'SC lean, and I honestly don't expect UCLA to get him, but I could really see Rick going after him just as hard as he did Riley last year. If Rick commits to signing him the same way he did Riley, I could see it being VERY possible for us to sign him.
Once again, thanks for posting in a polite manner.