Signing Day is less than a week away and the next two days will be the final opportunity for coaches to reach out to players in hopes of receiving a commitment to their school with January 29 being a Quiet Period day, and the following three days commencing the Dead Period.
The Quiet Period permits recruits to visit with college coaches, but only on the campus of each college. The Dead Period is as it states, a period where coaches are not permitted to have any contact with recruits whatsoever. This means no visits, or phone calls.
The list of players for this weekend include the following:
NON-COMMITTED
- Arroyo Grande (CA) OLB Seth Jacobs
- Arroyo Grande (CA) LB Henry Adelman
- Buhach Colony (CA) DT Aziz Shittu
- Long Beach Poly (CA) CB Randall Goforth
- Chandler (AZ) WR Javon Williams
- Miramar (FL) DB Marrell Jackson
- Miramar (FL) WR Malcolm Lewis; committed to Miami (FL)
COMMITTED TO UCLA
- Santa Monica JC (CA) OL Alexandru Ceachir
This weekend the big name on the list is Aziz Shittu. Shittu visited USC last week and was really impressed. However, the front runner for Shittu has long been known to be Stanford, where he tripped the week prior. Aziz has also visited Texas A&M and California.
Shittu is has the kind of quickness that will fit perfectly into any 3-4 defensive scheme, especially that of new Bruin defensive coordinator Lou Spanos. Scout.com’s Brandon Huffman states that Shittu’s lone weakness is his techniques and moves. Should he refine those, he believes Aziz will develop into a top-tier player at the next level. It is anybody’s guess where Shittu will end up given his constant change of tone on Twitter, but let us face it, that is what Twitter is for. It has been fun to follow. Nevertheless, he should end up a Cardinal.
Wideout Javon Williams has just the Bruins and Arkansas as his final two schools as mentioned earlier in the week. Williams was born in California, but has never been to UCLA. Friday’s visit must have a lasting impression on him if the Bruins want a pledge from the 53rd-rated receiver. To their advantage is the connection he had with Bruin quarterback Brett Hundley in high school. Javon was Brett’s top option, and very well could step into an important role for the Bruins. The word on Williams is that UCLA has a very good chance with him. I also like their chances, and believe that they will pluck him away the Razorbacks.
Rumors have flown about the nation’s second-rated player, safety Shaquille Thompson, and whether or not he will take an unofficial visit to Westwood. If this visit is to happen, it will happen sometime Saturday as Thompson is scheduled to have an in-home visit with Oregon Duck’s head coach Chip Kelly. There is a good chance that he shows up as many have felt that UCLA suddenly has jumped back into the sweepstakes for Shaq. Word is that he has a hard time saying no to coaches Jim Mora and Angus McClure. Could they seal the deal? Another determining factor is the commitment of St. John Bosco cornerback Dalis Bruce, who is to choose between Cal and UCLA today. Bruce’s commitment could seal the deal for he, Thompson and the top-rated receiver out west, Bryce Treggs.
Stay tuned.
** Just a note to leave you with; two weeks ago the Bruins got DT Ellis McCarthy to flip from Cal. Then last week, OLB Jeremy Castro made the change from Oregon. With that kind of momentum, the Bruins could make it 3-for-3. **
