QB recruiting heating up
Marques Tuiasosopo went out to see four-star QB Jack Sears last Tuesday and offered the prospect. Here's what Sears had to say about the scholarship on Saturday at our Rivals Camp.
Tuiasosopo is also slated to go out to see three-star Chase Garbers on Tuesday. Garbers said if the offer comes then, it could be a big one for him.
I actually thought three-star Nick Sipe outthrew Garbers at Sunday's 7-on-7 event, but Sipe said he's yet to hear from Tuiasosopo.
For what it's worth, four-star QB Tua Tagovailoa is slated to commit next week, and there's some growing buzz that it may just be Alabama who lands him and not USC.
The leader now?
For a long time, Stanford was the team to beat for five-star DB Darnay Holmes. After several visits to Nebraska, and best friends Keyshawn Johnson Jr. and Tristan Gebbia committing there, Nebraska seemed to have the edge for a while. Yet suddenly, we're hearing UCLA may just be the team to beat now for the five-star athlete.
A source close to Holmes told us this week that UCLA "feels really good" about its chances with Holmes. And that was before he and his family showed up to the Bruins' Spring Showcase decked out in UCLA gear. Holmes told us on Sunday that one of the biggest things he got from the Westwood visit was his mom "loved it," and that meant a lot to him.
He may or may not announce on his birthday anymore on June 23, as that's up in the air now, but UCLA looks like it's in pole position here.
Graham coming with Holmes?
A source close to four-star DB and recent USC decommitment Thomas Graham told us this week that, privately, the cornerback is seriously only looking at two programs since his SC decommitment: UCLA and Arizona. The source said Graham and Holmes have actually grown very close, and they've been in talks about being a package deal for the Bruins.
Graham didn't visit Westwood on Saturday for the Spring Showcase because of track, but he intends to get out for an unofficial visit soon. He also said he'll use an official on UCLA in the fall.
The leader for Gumbs too?
Four-star OLB was another big-name uncommitted visitor who came away from the Spring Showcase very impressed with UCLA. His father raved about Scott White and the trip to us on Sunday, and privately, we continue to hear the Bruins are the leader here.
Gumbs said he's done taking unofficial visits and there are no more offers he's seeking out. He's looking to make a commitment within the next six weeks, and for now, UCLA has to be considered the favorite.
Tight end recruiting update
Four-star TE Hunter Bryant had a top two of UCLA and Washington, but he picked the Huskies on Saturday. That leaves UCLA with a few uncommitted local options still at the position for 2017: Jimmy Jaggers, Moses Robinson-Carr and Josh Falo. We're hearing UCLA would probably prefer Jaggers among that group.
But a new TE target could emerge here in the next few weeks: three-star NorCal TE Erik Krommenhoek. The big TE showed off great size and good mobility at 7-on-7 on Sunday, and he did it all in front of Angus McClure (who was there watching his son play QB for TMP Elite). UCLA is supposed to see more of Krommenhoek later this evaluation period, and don't be surprised if the Bruins throw their hat into the ring with an offer. Both of Krommenhoek's parents went to UCLA, so he's very much an option for the Bruins.
For what it's worth, Falo was very underwhelming at Sunday's 7-on-7, showing off below average hands and no real fire on the field. He did seem to really enjoy his time at the Spring Showcase on Saturday, however.
Short shots
-I spoke to a source this week about 2016 UCLA pledge Darian Owens, and right now, there doesn't seem to be a tremendous amount of optimism that he's going to get his academics squared away in time to be a greyshirt for UCLA. He has until January to get his ducks in a row, but the source said things aren't looking great at the moment.
-It's only been a day since UCLA lost its top WR target Alex Cook to Washington, but three-star WR Jamire Calvin said he hasn't heard from UCLA about an offer yet. The Bruins are not expected to drop by Cathedral for another few weeks, Calvin said.
-2018 RB T.J. Pledger seems to have serious interest in UCLA. Prior to doing an interview with us, Keyshawn Johnson Jr. yelled at me, Pledger and Holmes to say, "They don't have interest in UCLA!" Pledger turned and snapped at him and said, "I do!" Again, he's in no hurry to commit, but it sure sounds like he has more interest in UCLA than USC at the moment.
-Spoke on Sunday with three-star DB Trajon Cotton, who loved his visit to the UCLA Spring Showcase Saturday. I got the vibe that he really wants to commit. Oregon is really the only other threat here for the three-star in my opinion.
Marques Tuiasosopo went out to see four-star QB Jack Sears last Tuesday and offered the prospect. Here's what Sears had to say about the scholarship on Saturday at our Rivals Camp.
Tuiasosopo is also slated to go out to see three-star Chase Garbers on Tuesday. Garbers said if the offer comes then, it could be a big one for him.
I actually thought three-star Nick Sipe outthrew Garbers at Sunday's 7-on-7 event, but Sipe said he's yet to hear from Tuiasosopo.
For what it's worth, four-star QB Tua Tagovailoa is slated to commit next week, and there's some growing buzz that it may just be Alabama who lands him and not USC.
The leader now?
For a long time, Stanford was the team to beat for five-star DB Darnay Holmes. After several visits to Nebraska, and best friends Keyshawn Johnson Jr. and Tristan Gebbia committing there, Nebraska seemed to have the edge for a while. Yet suddenly, we're hearing UCLA may just be the team to beat now for the five-star athlete.
A source close to Holmes told us this week that UCLA "feels really good" about its chances with Holmes. And that was before he and his family showed up to the Bruins' Spring Showcase decked out in UCLA gear. Holmes told us on Sunday that one of the biggest things he got from the Westwood visit was his mom "loved it," and that meant a lot to him.
He may or may not announce on his birthday anymore on June 23, as that's up in the air now, but UCLA looks like it's in pole position here.
Graham coming with Holmes?
A source close to four-star DB and recent USC decommitment Thomas Graham told us this week that, privately, the cornerback is seriously only looking at two programs since his SC decommitment: UCLA and Arizona. The source said Graham and Holmes have actually grown very close, and they've been in talks about being a package deal for the Bruins.
Graham didn't visit Westwood on Saturday for the Spring Showcase because of track, but he intends to get out for an unofficial visit soon. He also said he'll use an official on UCLA in the fall.
The leader for Gumbs too?
Four-star OLB was another big-name uncommitted visitor who came away from the Spring Showcase very impressed with UCLA. His father raved about Scott White and the trip to us on Sunday, and privately, we continue to hear the Bruins are the leader here.
Gumbs said he's done taking unofficial visits and there are no more offers he's seeking out. He's looking to make a commitment within the next six weeks, and for now, UCLA has to be considered the favorite.
Tight end recruiting update
Four-star TE Hunter Bryant had a top two of UCLA and Washington, but he picked the Huskies on Saturday. That leaves UCLA with a few uncommitted local options still at the position for 2017: Jimmy Jaggers, Moses Robinson-Carr and Josh Falo. We're hearing UCLA would probably prefer Jaggers among that group.
But a new TE target could emerge here in the next few weeks: three-star NorCal TE Erik Krommenhoek. The big TE showed off great size and good mobility at 7-on-7 on Sunday, and he did it all in front of Angus McClure (who was there watching his son play QB for TMP Elite). UCLA is supposed to see more of Krommenhoek later this evaluation period, and don't be surprised if the Bruins throw their hat into the ring with an offer. Both of Krommenhoek's parents went to UCLA, so he's very much an option for the Bruins.
For what it's worth, Falo was very underwhelming at Sunday's 7-on-7, showing off below average hands and no real fire on the field. He did seem to really enjoy his time at the Spring Showcase on Saturday, however.
Short shots
-I spoke to a source this week about 2016 UCLA pledge Darian Owens, and right now, there doesn't seem to be a tremendous amount of optimism that he's going to get his academics squared away in time to be a greyshirt for UCLA. He has until January to get his ducks in a row, but the source said things aren't looking great at the moment.
-It's only been a day since UCLA lost its top WR target Alex Cook to Washington, but three-star WR Jamire Calvin said he hasn't heard from UCLA about an offer yet. The Bruins are not expected to drop by Cathedral for another few weeks, Calvin said.
-2018 RB T.J. Pledger seems to have serious interest in UCLA. Prior to doing an interview with us, Keyshawn Johnson Jr. yelled at me, Pledger and Holmes to say, "They don't have interest in UCLA!" Pledger turned and snapped at him and said, "I do!" Again, he's in no hurry to commit, but it sure sounds like he has more interest in UCLA than USC at the moment.
-Spoke on Sunday with three-star DB Trajon Cotton, who loved his visit to the UCLA Spring Showcase Saturday. I got the vibe that he really wants to commit. Oregon is really the only other threat here for the three-star in my opinion.
