For the third time in the last two recruiting years,
USC has taken the intrigue out of a recruitment, picking up a commitment from a
sophomore.
Carson (Calif.) tight end Morrell Presley (6-3.5, 207) camped at USC on Sunday and
left a big impression on the Trojans' coaching staff.
“I was offered by USC (Sunday) actually,” Presley told
WeAreSC.com. “They said I was
working hard and left it all out on the field. This doesn’t change things
though, because I need to keep working hard. I committed on the spo. I
like their offense, and the pace of the camp was incredible. The coaches were
real fired up, and there was a lot of excitement out there. The coaches are real
honest with you, and they do not beat around the bush."
Presley's commitment is the second for the Trojans from the class of 2009, with
Compton (Calif.) Dominguez linebacker Marquis Simmons having verballed to the
Trojans last month. Last year, Anaheim (Calif.) Servite athlete D.J. Shoemate started the trend of sophomores committing to USC, verballing to the
Trojans late in his sophomore year.
Last year, Presley had 26 catches for 328 yards and two touchdowns en route
to earning all-Marine League honors and also punted for Carson, averaging
almost 30 yards a punt.
Arizona, Oregon and Washington State all had given Presley verbal offers as well
during the course of the evaluation period.
Stanford picked up its fourth commitment in the class
of 2007, and second from a wide receiver, when Chris Owusu, the rangy
pass-catcher from Oaks Christian in Westlake Village, Calif., verballed to the
Cardinal on Monday.
Owusu called Stanford head coach
Jim Harbaugh
and assistants Andy Buh and David Shaw to deliver the news.
"They were all really excited. They were happy that I
committed - happy to get another receiver," Owusu told
TheBootleg.com. "I know that another
receiver has committed, but they were really excited for me to commit, too. I'm
just happy to get out there and help recruit for Stanford."
Owusu joins Warren Reuland, from Mission Viejo, as the
second commitment at wideout for the Cardinal. More impressive, he makes
it three years running that the Cardinal have gotten an Oaks Christian prospect.
In 2006, Stanford signed lineman Joe Dembesky and in
February, signed Owusu's counterpart at receiver, Sean Wiser.
"It's a place where I've been wanting to go all my
life. Great academics and a great football team," Owusu further told
TheBootleg.com. "This really relieves
all the stress off me. I've been working hard these past couple years to keep
my grades and do anything I need to do to go to a great school like Stanford.
All my tension, all the stress has been released. I'm just really happy that
the recruiting process is over."
As a junior last season, he caught 35 passes for 790
yards and 10 touchdowns for the undefeated CIF Division III state champions at
Oaks Christian.
Derrick Coleman |
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UCLA had their one-day camp last weekend and before the weekend was over, three more SoCal prospects gave the Bruin staff a commitment, giving them 18 verbals in all.
Fullerton (Calif.) Troy fullback Derrick Coleman got the ball rolling, committing to UCLA on Sunday afternoon. His strong performance at the UCLA camp netted him an offer, which didn't take him long to accept
"I talked to Coach (Karl) Dorrell and told him I was committing to
UCLA," said Coleman. "Coach Dorrell and Coach (Dino) Babers talked with me and I
also talked to Coach (Eric) Scott and Coach (Jay) Norvell. They're bringing me
in as a running back, either fullback or tailback."
Coleman was a second team all-state underclass pick after he rushed for 2,340
yards and 37 touchdowns (180 ypg, 10.6 ypc), earning Freeway League MVP and
CIF-SS Division Player of the Year honors as well, despite splitting the running
back duties.
Fellow Orange County native Jeff Baca, a 6-4, 275-pound offensive lineman
from Mission Viejo committed that same afternoon.
“Ever since I was younger I used to go to games with my dad so UCLA always
had a strong tie with me,” said Baca. “I always had that strong tie that I knew
that if my top school offered me, I’d commit. So when UCLA offered me, I
committed on the spot.”
Finishing off the Bruins run was 6-5, 260-pound tackle Connor Bradford from
Palmdale, Calif.
"UCLA offered me about two weeks ago,” said Bradford. “I had been hearing
from them for a while when they offered me and I went to the camp on Saturday. I
called them up on Sunday, I called Coach (Bob) Connelly and told him I wanted to
commit.”
Arguably the top offensive prospect in Central California, Merced receiver
Jarrett Sparks has offers from all around the Pac-10, but he's still waiting to
get an offer from USC, the school he grew up rooting for.
USC has always been my favorite school," Sparks told Scout.com. "They are
always a top team. I went to one of their practices and I love how intense it
was. They play hard and have great coaches. I like USC a lot, but even if they
offered I think I would wait. I don't think I'd commit right away or anything.
I like Cal a lot too."
The Bears were one of the first schools to offer Sparks, and he's been
staying in frequent contact with the Cal coaching staff.
"They've been to my school several times and I talk with the coaches
regularly," Sparks said. "They have a lot of receivers graduating and said
there's a good chance I could see early playing time."
Sparks finished 2006 with 862 yards receiving and eight
touchdowns, to earn all-district and all-area honors.
Oxnard (Calif.) Santa Clara athlete Cierre Wood (6-0, 195), one of the
elite prospects in the West in the class of 2009, picked up his first offer this
week.
"Cierre was verbally offered a scholarship today by San Diego State," said
Santa Clara athletic director Mike Schabert. "This makes two Santa Clara players
offered by San Diego State, along with Randi Vines (a class of 2008 prospect who
was offered two weeks ago)."
Wood helped the Saints to one of their finest seasons in decades, a 10-2
record in 2006 and a CIF Quarterfinal appearance. He was named the 2006
California State Sophomore of the Year and First Team All-State, while also
earning all-CIF First Team honors, All-Ventura County (Coaches and VC Star) and
All-League.
During the 2006 season, Wood had 2,480 all-purpose yards, 1,407 coming on the
ground (12.03 ypc) and 595 coming through the air (37.19 per catch). He scored
25 touchdowns (17 rushing, seven receiving and one a kick return).
Few players have seen their stock rise as dramatically as Brush Prairie
(Wash.) Hockinson offensive tackle Nick Cody, who's gone from relative unknown,
to owner of double-digit offers, including from most of the Pac-10.
Cody, 6-6.5, 290-pounds, has been racking the offers up at a frenetic pace
and recently said that three schools are standing out.
"That would be Oregon, Oregon State and Cal," Cody told
BeaverFootball.com. "I'm talking with
my mom so hopefully within the next several weeks make some decisions."