By Greg Lewis
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Recruiting is always a tricky business, and the unexpected
should be expected. Today is Signing Day for the class of 2001, and
UCLA has had its share of twists and turns.
The recruiting season started off early for the Bruins with
three big commitments immediately after Signing Day 2000. Safety
Matt Ware, linebacker Marvin Simmons and offensive lineman Bob
Cleary, three of the best players in the country at their
positions, all told UCLA they would be headed to Westwood early
on.
The Bruins used the momentum from the trio to rope in OL Ed
Blanton, wide receiver Jacques Lazarus and quarterbacks John
Sciarra Jr. and Matt Dlugolecki.
OLs Colin Barker, Matt Mosebar, Mike McCloskey, running backs
Tyler Ebell, Jason Harrison, Wendell Mathis, defensive backs Jibril
Raymo, Matthew Clark and Marcus Casell, linebacker Spencer Havner,
WR Junior Taylor and tight end Keith Carter soon also pledged their
services to UCLA.
But Simmons and Dlugolecki have since defected, Dlugolecki to
Illinois, where he saw more immediate opportunity, and Simmons to
Southern Cal. Simmons’ change of heart was particularly
surprising because he had previously said, “I’ve always
known that UCLA was the place for me, I’ve been a fan all my
life.” Along with Ware, Simmons had been working to convince
other local recruits to come to UCLA.
After losing Dlugolecki, UCLA hired defensive coordinator Phil
Snow, who had previously agreed to take the position with Illinois.
The firing of previous coordinator Bob Field and subsequent hiring
of Snow did not seem to effect recruiting.
The two biggest name recruits UCLA is looking at who have not
yet committed are Shaun Cody and Michael Craven. Cody is considered
the best defensive end in the country and Craven is regarded as one
of the top three linebackers.
Along with UCLA, Cody is considering Notre Dame and USC. Craven
narrowed his choices to UCLA and Stanford. Defensive line and
linebacker are the two positions where the Bruins need to build the
most depth.
Other targets UCLA also has its eye on who have not made a
decision are TE/WR Kellen Winslow Jr., DL Troy Banner and TE/DE
Evan Allen.
The recruits that Toledo has brought in, especially on offense,
indicates that UCLA is trying to build a team that can push its way
up and down the field.
The average offensive lineman in the 2001 class is 6-feet-8, 282
pounds. The wide receivers are both over 6-feet-2 and 185
pounds.
UCLA declined to offer a scholarship to Jerome Janet, one of the
nation’s top wide receivers who is 5-foot-1. UCLA heavily
recruited Reggie Williams, a 6-foot-4, 215 pounder who ended up
committing to the hometown Washington Huskies.