West Coast Football Notes

There's been a lot going on recently out West as things are definitely heating up as we get closer to signing day. The big news of the past week was the commitments by the Long Beach Poly group- Hershel Dennis, Darnel Bing, Winston Justice and Manuel Wright to USC. All four will still take trips this week but they appear locked up for the Trojans.

With just a little over two weeks left before signing day, there's still a lot of top players left non-committed at this time including the top player on our board nationally, Lorenzo Booker. Booker is leaning solidly to Washington right now but will visit Notre Dame and USC in the next two weekends.

At this point, it will take a lot for a school to overtake the Huskies as Booker loves the coaching staff, the offensive line returning and coming in, the way UW runs the ball and the opportunity to come in and play right away.

Our top quarterback prospect on the West, Trent Edwards, is also still on the board but now that Stanford has hired an offensive coordinator in Mike Sanford, one of the nicest guys in the business, we feel it's only a matter of time before Edwards pulls the trigger for the Cardinal.

The top wide out on the West, Rhema McKnight is easily the toughest player to predict out of anyone. He has visited Florida, Oregon and Washington and may visit UCLA and Notre Dame in the next two weeks. The Bruins were his childhood favorite but we're also hearing he may want to leave the state so anything is possible.

Defensive lineman Fred Matua appeared sewn up for USC not too long ago and even told us at the CaliFlorida Bowl he was going there as he was openly recruiting other players to go along with him. Now watch out for Notre Dame who will trip Matua in January 25. The Irish's new RB coach, Buzz Preston is a Banning alum and is held in very high regard by everyone on the current Pilot staff.

Two of the West best defensive backs, Aaron Miller and Jarrad Page are both still on the board and will be taking one more trip before it's decision time. Miller was a solid UCLA lean until he visited Oklahoma and was blown away by the Sooners. He'll trip to USC this weekend but Oklahoma is currently sitting on top.

Page will visit Oregon this weekend and the Ducks will have to overcome UCLA and Washington who are the current leaders. Page is a very versatile player who could end up corner or safety in college and will also play baseball. With his interest in baseball, don't be surprised if Page takes one last look at USC before he pulls the trigger.

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