Brendel opens up
This was a pretty long interview, so rather than clutter than front page, I bumped this over the jump, so click on the link below.
Chatted for a long time with new UCLA commit Jacob Brendel, who blew my mind. Extremely bright kid. Extremely. He was very open with his answers, shockingly candid on some, and he sounds like he has a true understanding of himself and what he wants. I don't often expect that from a teenager.
Here's his profile, also:
In the era of "The Decision," live television spectacles to announce to the world about college - or pro - destinations, Jacob Brendel wanted none of that.
The Plano East (Texas) offensive lineman saw his future being plucked off little by little, available scholarships at possible destinations being snatched up and secured, and he knew he had to act quickly.
So he called Bob Palcic a few days ago and became the fourth offensive lineman to commit to UCLA so far.
"One reason why I committed is that here aren't unlimited spots; schools only have so many positions open for O-Linemen," said Brendel, rated the No. 6 center in the country by Scout.com. "To me, I already lost one of my schools, Northwestern - they wanted three offensive linemen and all three committed - and that made me wake up and say I need to make a decision. I wanted to reserve a spot."
Brendel said he did not buy into the hoopla.
He didn't buy into the idea of waiting until late in the game to build suspense.
And he certainly didn't buy into the hype that his recruiters were selling him.
With offers from Cal, Stanford and Arizona among others, he was not dazzled by history or facilities or strategy.
Only by the players and coaches.
"In the back of my mind, I know that college football is a business, and I realize that the only reason colleges have sports is to bring in money," Brendel said. "That's part of the reason why they're trying to recruit the best players, sure. But to me, I didn't look for how impressive the school is or how amazing they used to be. It was about how well I could bond with the coaches and the students who are already there. I'm that type of person. That's what set my mind on UCLA."
First and foremost, Palcic.
Brendel said he has a great relationship with the Bruins' offensive line coach, forged on mutual respect and a similar attitude.
"Palcic has been around - he's been a coach in the NFL, many colleges, and I feel like he knows what he's talking about," Brendel said. "He's not learning. He's learned all he needs to learn. He's an expert at what he does, and he shoots it to his players and coaches straight. He doesn't sugar-coat things, and I don't sugar-coat things. The bond between he and I will be strong for years to come."
It's a bond that he also shares with UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel.
Soon after calling Palcic, Brendel was on the phone with Neuheisel, whom Brendel admires for his loyalty to the Bruins.
"The passion that he has for UCLA, his alma mater, came out the first second I met him," said Brendel, who is listed on Scout at 6-foot-4.5 and 240 pounds. "I just knew that he loved where he was. He loves his job. Really, that made it for me. I trusted him then. What's the importance of a relationship with him? He calls the shots. Same with my head coach at Plano East. You need to have a relationship with that person, so he knows what kind of player you are. Player and man."
But Brendel also understands that he is part of a class of recruits, and beyond that part of a large team, so his relationships with his fellow players will be paramount. He's already gotten to know several players, and he is particularly interested in UCLA's 2011 class, which has verbal commitments from offensive linemen Torian White, Marc Mustoe and Ben Wysocki, tight end Junior Pomee and wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
"I learned the second I started playing offensive line that you have to have a great bond with the fellow offensive linemen and the entire team," Brendel said. "You can't push on your fellow players if they don't know and trust you. Without that trust, it's hard to have a quality team. From looking at the already committed offensive linemen, I could definitely see myself building good relationships with those people."
As of now, Brendel is a firm verbal commitment, wavering not the least. But unlike many several recruits, who say they're locked up and then flip late in the process, Brendel is candid about his status with the Bruins and his potential to land elsewhere.
"I really can't answer that question," Brendel said. "I can't tell the future; right now I'm very, very excited about a chance to go to UCLA and play football. But there are schools out there that I'm more excited about. Those schools really aren't an option for me right now. But if they do become an option, things might change. Really, there's always an option. Right now, it's only words. There's no paperwork."
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UCLA should tell him that they will continue to offer his spot to other linemen.
Kid sounds like he knows the process. "If they do become an option" is code for "If Texas and/or Oklahoma offers, I'm going there." To date, neither have offered. Hope he stays firm and comes out west.
Well, at least he's honest?
Let's hope he doesnt have THAT great of a senior season then that UT comes offering...
Honest, realistic, straight-forward, mature. I like him and hope he stays with us.
Doesn't sound like much of a "commitment." Sounds more like an option--I'll go with you if no one better emerges.
I think he's waiting for Wisconsin, where he's originally from.
Maybe it's just me but I hope his dream school comes calling.
We will QUICKLY become the "other opportunity"/ "dream school" by beating Texas and having a GREAT season.
Guys, let me tell you about someplace warm. A place where the beer flows like wine. Where blue chip commits instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano; a little place called UCLA with WINS on the field (>9)
Last thing, while I wish we could win the recruiting battle with Texas in Texas (which would come with wins), I'm elated we are winning the battle against other Pac 10 schools already.
Hollywood Bruin
I like the kid. Options run out and he needs to make sure he has a scholarship to a good school or any school at that. The coaches shouldn't be worried, he seems like an honest and realiable player. I am glad he picked UCLA.
Go Bruins
The Salmon are flocking in Capistrano? I've GOT to go see that!!
Just based on Jon's interview I feel very comfortable in saying if this kid enrolls at UCLA no one connected with the program will have to worry about him stealing a purse in his first couple of weeks on campus.
I think his honesty about what may occur in the future is refreshing. From the tone of Jon's report I get the sense that he did not hide his feeling from the UCLA coaching staff. I bet they even know which schools could win him away. That's the way it is in the current recruiting environment that forces kids to make verbal committments well before they can sign a LOI.
Is this a joke? All this cloying about, excuse me, a
247 pound offensive lineman? What is UCLA now, Pop Warner Upper Division?
Hollywood Bruin,
I recognized your Dumb and Dumber line just after reading the first sentence. That was funny!
I really don't see him as mature. He seems like a kid trying to sound mature. If you are really so upstanding you don't accept an invitation to the big dance knowing you'd gladly dump your date if someone better came along. If you are hoping to go to another school, earn it in your senior season. Coming out and saying what he did about keeping his options open strikes me as immature and selfish...quite the opposite of the image he is trying to sculpt for himself.
"UCLA should tell him that they will continue to offer his spot to other linemen."
Absolutely.
I hear there are some spots opening up across town.
Of course, by signing day, he might have to play all five OL positions there.
Very typical. As UB has always pointed out, verbal committments are not binding. So, that phrase is an oxymoron. It should be . . . "A verbal indication in leaning in this direction for the moment, unless and until something better comes along" OR AVILITDFTMUAUSBCA, for short.
No one should get their panties in a bunch over his 'soft' verbal. All verbals are soft.
When they enroll in school, THEN we've got them! Until that time, it is all blogosphere musing.
Oh, I see, college sports is just a "business", okay, how money does college tennis rake in? Or for that matter college cross-country? It is more than a business, although some sports are more of a business than others.
Oh, I see, a "commitment" is really keeping "options" open. Gee whiz, thanks for gracing us with keeping your options open - perhaps you should talk to one of the over 50,000+ kids who were denied admission to UCLA this last year. Wake up son, this is UCLA, not South Western Texas State. Go to the best school in America my friend and be part of an amazing academic and athletic legacy, commit to becoming a Bruin.
Brendel is my nigga. We're sitting in class right now!
First of all, verbal commitments are retarded, who thought of that? Why make the recruiting process any more painful for a High school kid and sit there and ridicule them because they have to make a decision or the "spots" for verbal committing will be gone. Yes its verbal, Brendel is not the type to renig and go to a different school after signing, verbal is a load of crock anyway. But remember you cant commit to more than one school so settle down.
And no he wouldn't go to Wisconsin.
And no he isn't 247 he is up to 275 so settle down.
I honestly don't understand why people can even commit and why people care so much about verbal commits since nothing matters until signing day.
He is a mature kid, most 17 year olds cant brush their teeth on a regular basis while this one is trying to decide his college career and possible future career, get your panties out of a bunch.
He is going to UCLA, and I have met the guy and he isn't just posing ad mature.. This kid has a good head on his shoulders and will do great things in the coming years for UCLA.
Go bruins!