Southern California Recruiting Report (Part 1)

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1261748"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780b33b6a3b7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rancho Cucamonga offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1261748' first='Derrick' last='Cooper'] picked up an offer from Black Hills State last Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper was a MVP at the Prep Redzone Combine Series in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has a wide base, strong initial punch and the strength to recover when he does get beat off the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooper also has offers from Western New Mexico and Alcorn State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a great talk with coach Clay I&#039;m blessed to say I have received my 3rd offer from black hill University <a href="https://twitter.com/NateClay77?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NateClay77</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregBiggins</a> <a href="https://t.co/qpsFiInBXr">pic.twitter.com/qpsFiInBXr</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1261748' first='Derrick' last='Cooper'] (@Derrick_Cooper7) <a href="https://twitter.com/Derrick_Cooper7/status/1875306733662564536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["958763"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780b33b6a463"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Orange Lutheran freshman defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='958763' first='Marcus' last='Fakatou'] picked up offers from San Diego State and Alabama on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fakatou had 28 tackles, 10 for a loss, five sacks and a blocked field goal this season for the Lancers. He drew a lot of attention from scouts at the National Preps Showcase last spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alabama was the 14th school to offer Fakatou who also has offers from Oregon, Notre Dame and BYU among others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">✝️🙌🏽<br><br>Humbled to have received an offer from THE University of Alabama! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RollTide?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RollTide</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AlabamaFTBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlabamaFTBL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OLuFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OLuFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisWardOL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisWardOL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregBiggins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandonHuffman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/adamgorney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adamgorney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ChadSimmons_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChadSimmons_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PGregorian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PGregorian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/K12Elite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@K12Elite</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheUCReport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheUCReport</a> <a href="https://t.co/mkYXBHQh5D">pic.twitter.com/mkYXBHQh5D</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='958763' first='Marcus' last='Fakatou'] 🇹🇴 (@MarcusFakatou) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcusFakatou/status/1877507857161003368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1182938"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780b33b6a4e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ventura quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1182938' first='Derek' last='Garcia'] picked up an offer from Nevada on Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garcia threw for 236 yards per game with 27 touchdowns and 9 interceptions this season for Ventura.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nevada is the 12th school to offer Garcia joining Washington State, Cal and Minnesota among others. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachGilbertson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachGilbertson</a> and the staff, I'm excited to announce I've recieved an offer from the University of Nevada!! <a href="https://twitter.com/NevadaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NevadaFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachChoateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachChoateFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTimGarcia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTimGarcia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Throw_2_Win?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Throw_2_Win</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandonHuffman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BlairAngulo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlairAngulo</a> <a href="https://t.co/ri3Lp797WQ">pic.twitter.com/ri3Lp797WQ</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1182938' first='Derek' last='Garcia'] QB 2026 (@DerekGarcia_5) <a href="https://twitter.com/DerekGarcia_5/status/1876425273664811107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["348172"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780b33b6a55d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Edison (Huntington Beach) running back [player_tooltip player_id='348172' first='Julius' last='Gillick'] announced his commitment to Fresno State on January 3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gillick was committed to Montana but withdrew his commitment on the early signing day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He broke the school-record for single season rushing yards and touchdowns with 2,488 and 37, respectively, for a state championship team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gillick was named Offensive Player of the Year by the OC Register and Southern Section Offensive Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is the lone running back in Fresno State's 2025 recruiting class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fresno! Let's get to work!!! <br>Im home…❤️🐶<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachPrier?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachPrier</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Entz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Entz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RegJones20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RegJones20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HeirFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HeirFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/EdisonChargerFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdisonChargerFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandonHuffman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregBiggins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/latsondheimer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@latsondheimer</a> <a href="https://t.co/aM85g9MmKx">pic.twitter.com/aM85g9MmKx</a></p>&mdash; Ju (Julius) Gillick (@GillickJulius) <a href="https://twitter.com/GillickJulius/status/1875354786243211592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->