Several UCLA targets were down at Edison High School today competing in a 7-on-7 tournament. Here were my news, notes and evaluations after seeing them all:
Quarterbacks
-Of the QBs I watched today, my favorite was 2018 Centennial QB Tanner McKee. He's a huge 6 feet 5 with a power arm and he spins it well. He should be a national recruit when all is said and done.
-I only saw 2020 QB Bryce Young make a few throws today, as the youngster is rotating in with a senior at Cathedral, but he continued to impress after looking good with Ground Zero in the spring. Heard again out there that UCLA is a favorite for the freshman, and if he can shoot up another couple inches, he too should be a national recruit.
-I saw 2018 QB Jack Tuttle for just a few minutes as well, and he threw it just fine. He and McKee are no-brainer four-stars for me at the moment.
-2019 Mater Dei QB J.T. Daniels really threw it well against Loyola, demolishing their defense in a big win. There's a lot of talk about his age, which is sad, because I think if he were in his proper grade he'd still be a big-time recruit.
Running backs
-Four-star Drake Beasley sat out with a hamstring injury, but he told me after he hasn't spoken with UCLA in a long time. From the sounds of things, both parties have moved on here.
Receivers
-I absolutely loved four-star slot Jamire Calvin out there today, and now that Tarik Black is all but gone, it's probably time for UCLA to go ahead and pull the trigger here. I've been on the fence about Calvin for a minute, mostly because of his size and because he didn't really pop at the Five-Star Challenge in Atlanta, but he was really special in the game I watched today. He's not quite Tyjon Lindsey, but he's got such great burst and top-end speed and great hands. He still has the Bruins in his top eight, and I think once they offer and really press him hard for a commitment, he could end up in Westwood. He'll announce at an all-star game in the winter.
-UCLA really isn't in the mix for the St. Browns, but Amon-Ra was dominant in the one Mater Dei game I watched, and Osiris wasn't bad either with a few touchdowns. Equanimeous St. Brown was a much more physically-imposing St. Brown, but I think the other two are much better gamers.
-New UCLA offeree Nikko Remigio was all right in the one Mater Dei game I watched. He's not as quick as you'd like and I'm not sure he's a 2018 Rivals250 guy despite the big early offers he has. He told me he was very happy to get the UCLA offer because he really liked Eric Yarber at the Bruins' camp, but no favorites for Remigio yet.
-Four-star 2018 Centennial wide receiver Manuel Allen was good in the one game I watched him play. Good speed with soft hands. Really comparable to new UCLA offeree Devon Cooley. USC just offered and I don't think UCLA will be too far behind.
Linebackers
-Remember the name Jayvaun Wilson from Valencia. He's the 2019 younger brother of ASU signee Jay Jay Wilson. And he's just as physical and impressive as Jay Jay. Should grow into a monster LB prospect.
-2018 four-star Serra LB Merlin Robertson reminds me almost exactly of Lokeni Toailoa. He was an early USC lean, but the Trojans have really stopped recruiting him, and Scott White's slipped in masterfully. While Robertson won't blow you away with his athleticism like Toailoa, he just has a high football IQ and good intangibles. He told me White is recruiting him the hardest, and he's looking to make an early commitment after this upcoming season.
Defensive backs
-I got my first real look at new UCLA commit Jeffrey Manning, and I didn't love what I saw. He plays bigger than what he is, so people confuse him for being 6-2, but I stood next to him today and I'd be surprised if he's taller than 5-10. Cathedral also played mostly zone, so it was hard to get a great read on his back pedal and ability to flip the hips. But when they did run man-to-man, he didn't flash fluid hips or good top-end speed. I know UCLA dropped Rhedi Short, but I don't necessarily think Manning is a huge upgrade over him. He did have one nice pass breakup that I saw, and the word out there today was he's a hitter and not a true cover guy, so perhaps he'll flash better at safety when I head out to Cathedral in the fall for real games.
-The corner I loved today was new UCLA offeree Jaylan Shaw. The Centennial CB has everything I want to see in a cornerback prospect. Legit top-end speed, extremely fluid hips, great athleticism, good feet and great burst. He gave up like half a dozen catches in the game I watched today, so clearly he's still raw to the position, but he has all the tools and some of the best corner upside that I've seen in this year's talented group. He's down to UCLA, USC, Boise State and Washington State, but he basically said UCLA was his leader. He said he liked the vibe more in Westwood than at USC, and I could see him making a Bruin commitment on an unofficial visit later this month.
-I also really liked Mater Dei corner and new UCLA offeree Quentin Lake out there today. Of the tall, physical and long corners that UCLA has aggressively pursued the past few years (Colin Samuel, DeChaun Holiday, Priest Willis, Denzel Fisher, etc.), I think Lake is the best of that bunch. He actually has the hips and the speed to go along with the long arms and tall frame. He told me UCLA is definitely still his "No. 1 school," and a commitment should come eventually.
Quarterbacks
-Of the QBs I watched today, my favorite was 2018 Centennial QB Tanner McKee. He's a huge 6 feet 5 with a power arm and he spins it well. He should be a national recruit when all is said and done.
-I only saw 2020 QB Bryce Young make a few throws today, as the youngster is rotating in with a senior at Cathedral, but he continued to impress after looking good with Ground Zero in the spring. Heard again out there that UCLA is a favorite for the freshman, and if he can shoot up another couple inches, he too should be a national recruit.
-I saw 2018 QB Jack Tuttle for just a few minutes as well, and he threw it just fine. He and McKee are no-brainer four-stars for me at the moment.
-2019 Mater Dei QB J.T. Daniels really threw it well against Loyola, demolishing their defense in a big win. There's a lot of talk about his age, which is sad, because I think if he were in his proper grade he'd still be a big-time recruit.
Running backs
-Four-star Drake Beasley sat out with a hamstring injury, but he told me after he hasn't spoken with UCLA in a long time. From the sounds of things, both parties have moved on here.
Receivers
-I absolutely loved four-star slot Jamire Calvin out there today, and now that Tarik Black is all but gone, it's probably time for UCLA to go ahead and pull the trigger here. I've been on the fence about Calvin for a minute, mostly because of his size and because he didn't really pop at the Five-Star Challenge in Atlanta, but he was really special in the game I watched today. He's not quite Tyjon Lindsey, but he's got such great burst and top-end speed and great hands. He still has the Bruins in his top eight, and I think once they offer and really press him hard for a commitment, he could end up in Westwood. He'll announce at an all-star game in the winter.
-UCLA really isn't in the mix for the St. Browns, but Amon-Ra was dominant in the one Mater Dei game I watched, and Osiris wasn't bad either with a few touchdowns. Equanimeous St. Brown was a much more physically-imposing St. Brown, but I think the other two are much better gamers.
-New UCLA offeree Nikko Remigio was all right in the one Mater Dei game I watched. He's not as quick as you'd like and I'm not sure he's a 2018 Rivals250 guy despite the big early offers he has. He told me he was very happy to get the UCLA offer because he really liked Eric Yarber at the Bruins' camp, but no favorites for Remigio yet.
-Four-star 2018 Centennial wide receiver Manuel Allen was good in the one game I watched him play. Good speed with soft hands. Really comparable to new UCLA offeree Devon Cooley. USC just offered and I don't think UCLA will be too far behind.
Linebackers
-Remember the name Jayvaun Wilson from Valencia. He's the 2019 younger brother of ASU signee Jay Jay Wilson. And he's just as physical and impressive as Jay Jay. Should grow into a monster LB prospect.
-2018 four-star Serra LB Merlin Robertson reminds me almost exactly of Lokeni Toailoa. He was an early USC lean, but the Trojans have really stopped recruiting him, and Scott White's slipped in masterfully. While Robertson won't blow you away with his athleticism like Toailoa, he just has a high football IQ and good intangibles. He told me White is recruiting him the hardest, and he's looking to make an early commitment after this upcoming season.
Defensive backs
-I got my first real look at new UCLA commit Jeffrey Manning, and I didn't love what I saw. He plays bigger than what he is, so people confuse him for being 6-2, but I stood next to him today and I'd be surprised if he's taller than 5-10. Cathedral also played mostly zone, so it was hard to get a great read on his back pedal and ability to flip the hips. But when they did run man-to-man, he didn't flash fluid hips or good top-end speed. I know UCLA dropped Rhedi Short, but I don't necessarily think Manning is a huge upgrade over him. He did have one nice pass breakup that I saw, and the word out there today was he's a hitter and not a true cover guy, so perhaps he'll flash better at safety when I head out to Cathedral in the fall for real games.
-The corner I loved today was new UCLA offeree Jaylan Shaw. The Centennial CB has everything I want to see in a cornerback prospect. Legit top-end speed, extremely fluid hips, great athleticism, good feet and great burst. He gave up like half a dozen catches in the game I watched today, so clearly he's still raw to the position, but he has all the tools and some of the best corner upside that I've seen in this year's talented group. He's down to UCLA, USC, Boise State and Washington State, but he basically said UCLA was his leader. He said he liked the vibe more in Westwood than at USC, and I could see him making a Bruin commitment on an unofficial visit later this month.
-I also really liked Mater Dei corner and new UCLA offeree Quentin Lake out there today. Of the tall, physical and long corners that UCLA has aggressively pursued the past few years (Colin Samuel, DeChaun Holiday, Priest Willis, Denzel Fisher, etc.), I think Lake is the best of that bunch. He actually has the hips and the speed to go along with the long arms and tall frame. He told me UCLA is definitely still his "No. 1 school," and a commitment should come eventually.
