College Recruits Make Decisive Moves

When Tustin High running back DeShaun Foster left home for school Wednesday morning, he was still uncertain whether to pick UCLA or Texas.

“I told my dad, ‘I’m still undecided,’ ” Foster said.

His father, Al, said, “Son you don’t have to sign anything today. But if you don’t, all this [recruiting process] will continue.”

By the time Foster had finished his first class at school, his mind was made up--he would become a Bruin.

Foster, The Times’ Glenn Davis Award winner as the top prep football player in Southern California, signed a letter of intent with UCLA and helped cap a joyous day in Westwood for Bruin Coach Bob Toledo and his staff.

Foster, Imperial High linebacker Robert Thomas, offensive linemen Mike Saffer of Tucson Sabino and Capistrano Valley’s Blake Worley, defensive lineman Ken Kocher of San Diego Patrick Henry and defensive back Lovell Houston of Denver Jefferson were among the 24 high school seniors and two junior college transfers that gave the Bruins what is regarded as one of the top recruiting classes in the nation.

“I don’t know how you evaluate who is No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5,” said Toledo, who guided UCLA to a 10-2 record last season. “I just know we got a good recruiting class. . . . You don’t know how good they really are until they get to campus and put on the pads.”

Compton Dominguez quarterback Jason Thomas, Santa Margarita quarterback Carson Palmer, Pasadena Muir running back Sultan McCullough and Lakewood Mayfair offensive lineman Zach Wilson were among the 12 high school and junior college players who signed with USC. The Trojans also have two high school players and three junior college transfers enrolled at USC for the spring semester and who will participate in spring practice.

USC Coach Paul Hackett said the Trojans were hurt some by the uncertainty that followed the firing of John Robinson. He also said the Trojans still have five scholarships available.

“I think we lost some guys that we would have gotten,” said Hackett, who was the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator before taking over at USC on Jan. 8. “I can’t worry about those guys. I’m just happy about the guys who did come here.”

After running back Justin Fargas of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame announced last week that he was signing with Michigan, Foster and Thomas became the Southland’s most eagerly awaited signings.

In addition to UCLA and Texas, Foster considered Arizona State, Oregon and Washington.

“Texas had a great family environment, and I like Coach Mack Brown [who replaced fired coach John Mackovic six weeks ago],” said Foster, who rushed for 3,398 yards and scored a Southern Section record 59 touchdowns in 14 games this season. “But it was just a little too far away.”

Toledo, who said the Bruins filled all 26 scholarships they had to offer, was elated with the news.

“This puts the frosting on the cake,” Toledo said. “I told DeShaun and all our incoming players I never guarantee they will start, but they will get the opportunity to prove they can play. And I told DeShaun there is a great opportunity for him to contribute. If he does what we think he can do, he will play a lot at UCLA.”

Thomas, a Parade All-American despite playing in parts of only four games this past season, had announced that he would attend USC shortly after he suffered an ankle injury against Antelope Valley. However, he wavered in that decision after Robinson was fired as coach.

And when Palmer announced a few weeks ago that he would attend USC, many believed that Thomas, who is also a top linebacker, would look elsewhere for an opportunity to play quarterback.

But Thomas ultimately chose the Trojans over Nebraska. He said that Hackett, and especially offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, convinced him that USC was the place for him.

“Coach Hackett is a fiery, exciting person,” Thomas said. “He’s been in the NFL and I think he can help me get to the next level.

“No one has talked about me playing any other position. I’m going as a quarterback.”

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Where They’re Going

USC

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Name Pos Ht. Wt. School *Tanqueray Clark DB 6-0 180 West L.A. College Darren Collins DL 6-3 280 Santa Rosa JC Anthony Daye LB 6-4 220 Laguna Hills Miguel Fletcher RB 6-4 200 Alemany Derek Graf OL 6-4 260 Agoura Windrell Hayes WR 6-0 200 San Joaquin Delta CC Armand Holland LB 6-1 225 Stockton Franklin Scott Huber TE 6-4 245 Peninsula *Donta Kendrick OL 6-4 300 Sacramento CC Sultan McCullough RB 5-11 175 Muir Carson Palmer QB 6-4 205 Santa Margarita *Mike Pollard LB 6-1 220 Long Beach Poly Frank Strong RB 6-2 195 Stockton Franklin Jason Thomas QB 6-4 220 Dominguez *Jeff Weichman P-K 5-10 205 Santa Monica *Matt Welch OL 6-6 295 Santa Ana College Zach Wilson OL 6-4 270 Mayfair

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*--Already enrolled at USC

OTHER SCHOOLS

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Name Pos High School College Jermaine Brooks DL R.Cucamonga Arkansas Eugene Childs WR Westchester Brigham Young Justin Fargas RB SO Notre Dame Michigan Chris Hanks RB Cathedral California Herman Ho-Ching RB Long Beach Poly Oregon Devry Hughes WR Fremont Wisconsin Adam Kennybrew QB Beverly Hills Oregon Gary Love WR Jefferson Arizona Mike McNair FB Mater Dei Notre Dame Darnell Parhms RB Damien Washington Andrae Perry DB Fontana Washington Holmon Wiggins RB San Pedro New Mexico

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UCLA

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Name Pos Ht. Wt. School Audie Attar DB 6-0 176 Claremont Jon Dubravac WR 6-3 205 Mullen (Colo.) Anthony Fletcher DL 6-3 275 San Dimas DeShaun Foster RB 6-1 205 Tustin James Ghezzi OL 6-5 290 Glendale College Randy Hakes TE 6-3 233 Mesa College (Ariz) Lovell Houston DB 6-1 175 Jefferson (Colo.) Joe Hunter DB 5-11 170 Vacaville Chris Jackson TE 6-3 253 Kentridge (Wash.) Ken Kocher DL 6-4 292 Patrick Henry Rob Kolaczynski LB 6-2 225 C.-McMillian (Penn.) Saia Makakaufaki TE 6-3 248 Laguna Hills Ryan McCann QB 6-4 200 Agoura Steve Morgan OL 6-3 305 Skyline (Tex.) Paul Nelson WR 6-1 191 San Bernardino Cory Paus QB 6-2 205 Lincoln Way (Ill.) Sean Phillips DL 6-5 270 Dulles (Tex.) Ken Pritchett RB 5-9 170 Crescenta Valley Mike Saffer OL 6-5 290 Sabino (Ariz.) Robert Thomas LB 6-2 225 Imperial Doug Whiting DL 6-2 260 Pittsburg Scott Wiegand OL 6-7 270 Arcadia Julius Williams DB 6-0 180 Tustin Rusty Williams DL 6-4 232 Vista Blake Worley OL 6-6 295 Capistrano Valley Jeff Wright OL 6-5 285 Covina

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Staff writer Greg Sandoval contributed to this story.