Flannigan Chooses Colorado Over Cal

With national letter of intent day a week away, several major football prospects from area high schools announced their college intentions Tuesday.

Pomona High running back J.J. Flannigan, saying he liked the thought of running out of the option and getting back together with his former high school coach, ended one of the most intense recruiting battles by making a verbal commitment to attend Colorado. An all-state selection, he picked the Buffaloes, and their assistant coach, Oliver Lucas, over Cal.

Claremont’s Travis Watkins, who caught 104 passes last season for 22 touchdowns, made a verbal commitment to Iowa, which means he will continue the successful working relationship with quarterback Dan McGwire. Helping the Hawkeyes was the fact that Watkins was born in the state and has visited relatives there every year since moving to California when he was 3 years old.

UCLA got a pair of brothers when Lance Zeno, an outstanding lineman from Fountain Valley, and his brother, Eric, a linebacker prospect from Westminster La Quinta, said at a news conference that they would become Bruins. Earlier in the week, UCLA heard similar good news from linebacker Brian Jones from Texas and lineman Brian Wilcox from Illinois.

Meanwhile, highly touted quarterback Scott Stark from Capistrano Valley in Mission Viejo, and formerly of Ontario Chaffey, picked Stanford over Notre Dame. Another local quarterback, John Alaimo from Glendale Hoover, said he would play at South Carolina.

Additionally, offensive lineman Ryan McReynolds from Rowland decided on Arizona State, linebacker Tom Quinn from Tustin Foothill chose Arizona and running back Todd Yert and defensive lineman Ben Morgon , both from Mission Viejo, announced for Colorado State.