Huntley’s Early Signing Day Postmortem
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Several top football players in Southern California signed letters of intent this week and some are still making decisions. Now that the initial storm has passed, it is time to take a look at which colleges did the best job…
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Continue ReadingSeveral top football players in Southern California signed letters of intent this week and some are still making decisions.
Now that the initial storm has passed, it is time to take a look at which colleges did the best job recruiting in Southern California, a region loaded with top tier talent.
After USC hired Lincoln Riley, its 2022 recruiting class was down to the bare bones with only three commits remaining. Riley successfully flipped Mater Dei star running back Raleek Brown Raleek Brown 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA to USC. USC has not landed any local recruits since but there is still talent considering the Trojans.
The top prospect in the state, Mater Dei cornerback Domani Jackson Domani Jackson 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA was initially committed to USC but backed off in November. Jackson is down to two schools, USC and Alabama and may decide this week.
Mater Dei receiver CJ Williams CJ Williams 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2022 State CA has USC in his top four schools and plans on signing by the end of the week and revealing his decision at the All-American game on January 8. He was originally committed to Notre Dame but is intrigued by the Trojans.
Servite receiver Tetairoa McMillan Tetairoa McMillan 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR Servite | 2022 State CA also is undecided but may sign this week. USC is in his top three along with Oregon and Arizona. USC seems to be last on his list though considering he was initially committed to Oregon and three of his Servite teammates are going to Arizona.
Speaking of Arizona, the Wildcats did a phenomenal job recruiting in the region. They landed the Servite trio of Noah Fifita Noah Fifita 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Servite | 2022 State CA , Keyan Burnett Keyan Burnett 6'5" | 225 lbs | WR Servite | 2022 State CA and Jacob Manu Jacob Manu 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Servite | 2022 State CA . They also flipped Mater Dei defensive lineman Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei from Washington State and held onto edge rusher Sterling Lane Sterling Lane 6'4" | 235 lbs | LB Oaks Christian | 2022 State CA from Oaks Christian.
TA'ITA'I TIME‼️@tai_uiagalelei is officially a Wildcat!#TwentyTucson #BearDown pic.twitter.com/EMpOV0cxMD
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) December 15, 2021
The WIldcats landed Alemany stars Kevin Green Kevin Green 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Bishop Alemany | 2022 State CA and Ephesians Prysock Ephesians Prysock 6'3" | 170 lbs | DB Bishop Alemany | 2022 State CA . They also picked up a duo from Colony High in Antoine Jones Antoine Jones 6'0" | 195 lbs | WR Colony | 2022 State CA and Isaiah Ward Isaiah Ward 6'6" | 230 lbs | DL Colony | 2022 State CA .
While Notre Dame may lose Williams, they didn’t leave Southern California empty handed. The Fighting Irish got Alemany defensive star Niuafe Tuihalamaka Niuafe Tuihalamaka 6'3" | 240 lbs | LB Bishop Alemany | 2022 State CA and Centennial cornerback Jaden Mickey Jaden Mickey 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Centennial - Corona | 2022 State CA .
Stanford did pretty well landing three outstanding edge rushers and an offensive lineman. Mater Dei’s David Bailey David Bailey 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2022 State CA , Torrey Pines’ Zach Rowell Zach Rowell 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL Torry Pines | 2022 State CA and Sierra Canyon’s Kenji Swanson Kenji Swanson 6'7" | 310 lbs | OL Sierra Canyon | 2022 State CA are headed to Palo Alto. Another top San Diego pass rusher, Jaxson Moi Jaxson Moi 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL Cathedral Catholic | 2022 State CA of Cathedral Catholic will go to Stanford as well.
UCLA had a nice day with a trio from Inglewood headlining its recruiting class. Tomarion Harden Tomarion Harden 6'2" | 225 lbs | RB Inglewood | 2022 State CA , Justyn Martin Justyn Martin 6'4" | 210 lbs | QB Inglewood | 2022 State CA and Clint Stephens Clint Stephens 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Inglewood | 2022 State CA are staying local to play for the Bruins.
Sierra Canyon defensive back Kamari Ramsey Kamari Ramsey 6'1" | 200 lbs | DB Sierra Canyon | 2022 State CA flipped from Stanford to UCLA on signing day. Offensive lineman Sam Yoon Sam Yoon 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Loyola | 2022 State CA from Loyola, Vista Murrieta tight end Jack Pedersen Jack Pedersen 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Vista Murrieta | 2022 State CA and San Juan Hills receiver Braden Pegan Braden Pegan 6'4" | 200 lbs | WR San Juan Hills | 2022 State CA are also going to be wearing the powder blue and gold.
https://twitter.com/UCLAFootball/status/1471141635371114499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1471141635371114499%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fprepredzone.com%2F2021%2F12%2Fearly-signing-day-orange-county-and-san-diego-signees%2F
The only Trinity League player to sign with UCLA was linebacker Jalen Woods Jalen Woods 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA of St. John Bosco
Colorado State was the surprising team that landed a ton of Southern California recruits. Aubrey Scott Aubrey Scott 6'6" | 250 lbs | DL Leuzinger | 2022 State CA of Leuzinger, Justus Ross-Simmons Justus Ross-Simmons 6'3" | 215 lbs | WR Inglewood | 2022 State CA , Louis Brown Louis Brown 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Inglewood | 2022 State CA and Marshon Oxley Marshon Oxley 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Inglewood | 2022 State CA of Inglewood are all headed to Colorado State. Pasadena receiver Mekhi Fox Mekhi Fox 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Pasadena | 2022 State CA flipped his commitment from UCLA to Colorado State on signing day as well.
Oregon State continued to its trend of getting solid players from the region. The Beavers landed two very good defensive players in Sam Mason Sam Mason 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Charter Oak | 2022 State CA of Charter Oak and Mathias Malaki-Donaldson Mathias Malaki-Donaldson 6'5" | 220 lbs | DL Oaks Christian | 2022 State CA of Oaks Christian. They also landed promising Simi Valley quarterback Travis Throckmorton Travis Throckmorton 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Simi Valley | 2022 State CA .
San Jose State did pretty well in Southern California. Inglewood’s Damon Williams Damon Williams 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Inglewood | 2022 State CA , Banning running back Jakob Galloway Jakob Galloway 5'10" | 220 lbs | RB Banning | 2022 State CA , San Pedro receiver Kejuan Bullard Kejuan Bullard 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH San Pedro | 2022 State CA Jr., Murrieta Valley offensive lineman Jake Steele Jake Steele 6'4" | 260 lbs | OL Murrieta Valley | 2022 State CA and Valencia quarterback Tyler Voss Tyler Voss 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Valencia | 2022 State CA all signed Wednesday.
The military academies were active. Air Force landed Aliso Niguel long snapper Kurt Chesney. Army got letters of intent from Hunter Roddy Hunter Roddy 6'0" | 215 lbs | RB Chaparral | 2022 State CA of Chaparral, Maicah Talavou Maicah Talavou OL St. John Bosco | 2022 State CA of St. John Bosco, Caden Harman Caden Harman 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Sierra Canyon | 2022 State CA of Sierra Canyon, Donovan Poe Donovan Poe 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Long Beach Poly | 2022 State CA of Long Beach Poly and Zion Sims Zion Sims 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Servite | 2022 State CA of Servite.
The Big Ten only got two players from Southern California but they are two of my favorite players to watch. Mason Graham Mason Graham 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Servite | 2022 State CA of Servite is headed to Michigan and Braydon Brus Braydon Brus 6'2" | 210 lbs | ATH Glendora | 2022 State CA of Glendora is going to Northwestern.
Lastly, San Diego State did an outstanding job landing top local players from San Diego and a pair of talented Southern Section running backs. Three of the top players from San Diego are staying home: Romeo Mageo (Cathedral Catholic), Lucky Sutton Lucky Sutton 6'1" | 205 lbs | RB Cathedral Catholic | 2022 State CA , Cathedral Catholic and Treyton White Treyton White 6'1" | 230 lbs | LB Eastlake | 2022 State CA (Eastlake). A little bit north, running backs Sheldon Canley (Lompoc) and Max Garrison Max Garrison 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB St. Francis | 2022 State CA (St. Francis) are headed to San Diego.
Lucky was an absolute work horse for a Cathedral Catholic team that dominated all season. Sutton led the state with 2,600+ rushing yards and 40 TDs. This incredible season was capped off with winning the D1 CIF State Championship. #HometownHero #AztecWa22iors #StayingHome pic.twitter.com/wMGzb1pn55
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) December 16, 2021
Two Inland Empire defensive backs are also headed to San Diego State in Chris Johnson Chris Johnson 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Roosevelt | 2022 State CA of Roosevelt and Eric Butler Eric Butler 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Centennial | 2022 CA of Centennial. Norco quarterback Kyle Crum Kyle Crum 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Norco | 2022 State CA is also going there.
There are still many shoes to drop and when they do Prep Redzone will have all the coverage and analysis.