Rose Bowl Defeat Doesn’t Diminish Bruins’ Sales Pitch

Bolstered by its first Rose Bowl appearance in eight years, UCLA is off to a good start in football recruiting.

Although players cannot sign letters of intent until Feb. 2, Coach Terry Donahue and his staff have unwritten commitments from 10 players.

USC, rebuilding under Coach John Robinson after several sub-par recruiting efforts by former coach Larry Smith and his staff, has concentrated on filling specific needs and adding depth to both lines by recruiting community college players.

UCLA, which lost to Wisconsin, 21-16, in the Rose Bowl, has been actively recruiting out of state, especially the Midwest and Texas. And for good reason.

“It’s not a great year in California,” says Dick Lascola, who runs the Fallbrook, Calif.-based Scouting Evaluation Assn. “The strength of this class is the skill kids--running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs. There are virtually no quarterbacks, after Steve Campbell (Norco High) and Steve Buck (Alta Loma High), a handful of linemen and no linebackers. Overall, it’s pretty lean.”

USC has also been recruiting extensively in Texas, and both USC and UCLA could be helped by the five-year NCAA probation against the Texas A&M; football program that was handed down Wednesday. (However, the Aggies are prohibited from appearing on television and going to a bowl game only next season.) Texas A&M; has been the one Southwest Conference school in recent years that has consistently recruited well in-state.

Just this week, USC received a commitment from one of the top players in Texas, defensive lineman Cedric Jefferson (6-3, 270) of Ft. Worth, who also visited Alabama.

The Bruins are hoping to sign 20 players, an increase from their previously stated goal of 17 or 18.

UCLA’s 10 commitments: quarterback Steve Buck (6-feet-4, 180) of Alta Loma; defensive back-wide receiver Glenn Thompkins (5-9, 165) and offensive lineman Rick Austin (6-3, 300) of Rialto Eisenhower; running back-safety Shaun Williams (6-2, 185) of Encino Crespi; defensive lineman Danjuan Magee (6-3, 260) of Long Beach Poly; tight end-linebacker Mike Grieb (6-4, 220) of San Jose Oak Grove; tight end-defensive end Robert Arthur (6-5, 230) of Brownsboro, Tex.; defensive back Akil Davis (6-feet, 180) of Mesa, Ariz.; safety DuVal Hicks (6-2, 195) of Benicia, Calif., and punter Justin Sogoian (6-4, 195) of Orange Coast College. Sogoian, who attended La Quinta High in Westminster, was an all-state selection who averaged 42.7 yards a kick last season. He also visited USC.

In addition, Newhall Hart linebacker-tight end John McLaughlin (6-4, 220) says that UCLA and Notre Dame are his top choices. Florida State, Arizona and Nebraska are also among his list of schools.

UCLA and Notre Dame are also the top choices of talented running back Ty Goode (6-1, 185) of Southeast High in Lincoln, Neb. Goode rushed for 1,494 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, but is considered an even better prospect at safety. So far, he has resisted pressure to stay home and commit to Nebraska.

Latest to sign with the Trojans are defensive end Marcus Bonds (6-6, 235) of West Los Angeles, offensive lineman Richard Beatie (6-6, 290) of Glendale and defensive back Mario Bradley (6-2, 180) of Cerritos. That group joins two earlier community college signees, wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson (6-4, 205) of West Los Angeles and linebacker Errick Herrin (6-3, 230) of Mt. San Jacinto. In addition, two other community college standouts have made commitments to sign with USC next month: offensive lineman Heath Baughman (6-7, 290) of Bakersfield and fullback Reggie Brown (6-1, 235) of College of the Desert.

Besides Jefferson, other high school players who have reportedly made commitments to the Trojans include standout running back-defensive back Rodney Sermons (6-feet, 180) of La Puente Bishop Amat, defensive end George Perry (6-6, 235) of San Bernardino and offensive lineman David Caldwell (6-6, 310) of Oakland. Next to commit may be defensive back-wide receiver Leon Blunt (5-10, 180) of San Fernando. Blunt made an unwritten commitment to Notre Dame during a recruiting visit last month, but has since reconsidered. He recently visited UCLA, but has told friends that he will eventually sign with USC.

Notes

Around the Southland: Van Nuys Montclair Prep running back-defensive back Wilbert Smith (5-8, 185), the third-leading rusher in the state last season with 2,504 yards, has made an unwritten commitment to attend Illinois. The Illini also may be the leader for Rialto Eisenhower running back Marlon Farlow (5-11, 175). Notre Dame is among the schools recruiting Farlow . . . Newhall Hart wide receiver-defensive back Soren Halladay (6-2, 185) has committed to Brigham Young . . . Palos Verdes Peninsula tackle Matt Redman (6-7, 285) raised some eyebrows when he committed to Iowa recently after recruiting trips to California and Colorado. Redman’s parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle attended Cal, which was considered the front-runner to sign him. Peninsula’s other “twin tower,” guard John Welbourn (6-6, 275), has visited Cal and Nebraska and has trips scheduled this month to UCLA and USC and Colorado.

Crenshaw High fullback-linebacker Dennis Fomond (5-11, 210) is scheduled to visit Cal this weekend. He also has trips planned to UCLA, Nevada Las Vegas and Hawaii. He may also visit USC or Arizona . . . Jefferson High tight end-linebacker John Johnson (6-4, 210) has visited Arizona and Kansas and has trips planned to Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. UCLA has been recruiting him, but he reportedly wants to leave the Los Angeles area . . . One of the better offensive line prospects in Southern California, Terry Williams (6-6, 260) of Placentia El Dorado, is considering UCLA, USC, Cal, Arizona State and Colorado. Williams’ brother Steve lettered at UCLA as an offensive lineman in 1981-83 .

Long Beach Poly two-way lineman Brandon Whiting (6-3, 260), the son of Poly co-coach Thomas Whiting, will also visit Cal this weekend. He has taken a trip to Stanford and has one scheduled to Colorado. Two other Poly standouts, cornerbacks Kelly Malveaux (5-8, 175) and Lamont Morgan (6-1, 170), are being heavily recruited. The speedy Malveaux has visited Cal and Arizona and has trips planned to Washington, Colorado and Fresno State. Morgan is considering Oregon, Fresno State and Arizona State.

Around the Pac-10: Cal has received a commitment from quarterback Trevor Thompson (6-4, 190) of Thousand Oaks. Thompson chose the Bears over Fresno State, New Mexico and Colorado State. Cal now has at least six commitments: tight end-linebacker Tony Gonzalez (6-6, 230) of Huntington Beach (who also plans to play basketball); safeties David Burnside (6-2, 175) of Milpitas, Calif., Mark Borr (6-1, 190) of Sacramento and Marquis Smith (6-1, 195) of San Diego Patrick Henry; fullback Rudy Mattox (6-1, 210) of Pinole Valley and community college offensive lineman Derrick Barton (6-8, 295) of San Bernardino Valley. In addition, the Bears have re-entered the picture for All-American defensive lineman Darrell Russell (6-5, 290) of San Diego St. Augustine, perhaps the premier prospect in California. Russell has canceled his trip to Miami and will visit Cal instead. He has been to USC and UCLA and also plans to visit Notre Dame and Michigan . . . Stanford has received commitments from offensive linemen Brian Donahue (6-5, 250) of Albuquerque, N.M., and Geoff Wilson (6-6, 255) of Robertsdale, Ala. Donahue chose the Cardinal over USC. Wilson was also recruited by Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Louisiana State. However, Stanford lost standout running back-defensive back Tim Dwight (5-8, 155) of Iowa City, Iowa, to the hometown Hawkeyes. Dwight visited Stanford last month.

More Pac-10: Arizona has signed community college tight end Damon Terrell (6-4, 235) of El Camino. Terrell, who attended Serra High in Gardena, caught 47 passes for 588 yards last season. The Wildcats received an unwritten commitment from wide receiver Jim Romero (5-9, 170) of Sepulveda L.A. Baptist. Romero, who chose Arizona over Washington, caught 86 passes for 1,570 yards and 15 touchdowns last season . . . Despite the presence of a top-notch freshman quarterback, Jake Plummer, Arizona State has received a commitment from highly regarded quarterback Steve Campbell (6-7, 220) of Norco. Two of Campbell’s teammates, offensive linemen Mike Barnes (6-4, 250) and Troy Davis (6-4, 235), also committed to the Sun Devils.

Washington, which has been severely hampered by NCAA probation limiting its scholarship allotment and official campus recruiting visits, has concentrated on in-state players. The Huskies now have eight commitments: offensive linemen Ben Kadletz (6-4, 270) of La Canada St. Francis, running back-defensive back Ty Fotheringill (5-10, 170) of Kelso, Wash., wide receiver Marvin Kasim (5-9, 170) of Seattle, linebacker Chad Wright (6-3, 225) of Fife, Wash., offensive lineman Aaron Dalan (6-7, 285) of Sequim, Wash., defensive lineman Josh Smith (6-6, 225) of Bellingham, Wash., and community college offensive linemen Matt Hicks (6-6, 295) and Eugene Seminavaga (6-5, 290) of Cerritos. The Huskies’ recruiting class would be helped considerably if they can sign standout offensive line prospects Tony Coats (6-6, 275) and Benji Olson (6-4, 280), teammates from South Kitsap High in Port Orchard, Wash. Olson has already visited Washington, and Coats will be in Seattle this weekend. Coats is also considering Stanford and Notre Dame.