More Good News From The Recruiting Front ...

by Nestor on Feb 1, 2008 4:37 AM PST in Recruiting

We will get to the clinic Coach Howland’s warriors put on last night at Pauley. But let’s start Friday with some more good news from the football front. Looks like many of you guys are already on this in the diaries.

Aundre Dean, a blue chip RB from Texas who had previously committed to UCLA and then backed out is now on board. He is ready to take a swig out of UCLA’s passion bucket. FromHouston’s KPRC sports:

Mounting pressure has led Katy High School running back Aundre Dean to make his college choice. Dean told KPRC Sports on Thursday, " I'm going back to Cali to be a Bruin and I"m not going to take anymore visits."

Dean also confirmed Thursday that he informed Louisville of his decision. Dean was a Parade All-American this season for the Tigers who won the Class 5A Division II State championship.

Dean, who also had Arkansas and Texas A&M as finalists, was slated to announce his decision on Sports Sunday this weekend but instead wanted to get the process over with.

"During the entire process, I really felt like I was recognized around the country and felt coaches were watching me," Dean told KPRC Sports' Keith Norton at Katy High School Thursday. " Coach Neuheisel really wanted me to get this decision made so they continue their recruiting process. I'm excited and want to be at a place where if my football falls through I'll also be getting a good education."

And confirmation in the LA Times:

The Times' UCLA football beat writer, Chris Foster, reported today that four-star running back Aundre Dean of Katy HS (Katy, Tx.) has confirmed his commitment to attend UCLA.

Dean (6-1, 200) made an early verbal commitment last fall, but was considered to be wavering and has now re-confirmed his intention to sign a National Letter of Intent to attend UCLA.

In case you needed a reminder here are some of his highlights from 2006:

And here is his complete profile on Scout.com.

If we can get Knox on board, this recruiting class will look really good for running backs. Also Dohn is reporting that now Stevens is "leaning" towards UCLA:

I spoke with Hemet High offensive lineman Hamani Stevens this afternoon, and he said he was not going to announce his college plans until Wednesday, during a ceremony at Hemet High. His choices are UCLA and Oregon.
"I'm leaning a little toward UCLA,'' Stevens said. "I like the fact that seven of the eight coaches on the staff have been in the NFL, and that's where I want to go."
Stevens said he was done hosting in-home visits, but UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel will get one crack. Stevens said he is taking an unofficial visit to UCLA on Saturday and will take in the Bruins' basketball game against Arizona.

As excited I am about getting Dean back on board, I will be even more fired if we get Stevens. We need some talent at OL. Getting all of these skill players will not matter much if we don’t get it done in the trenches. Thank fully we have a head coach who gets that and has an elite OL coach like Palcic going after recruits like Stevens.

GO BRUINS.

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Qoute from Dean

$C recruits probably say "I got the wheels I wanted for signing". It's nice to see a kid who knows that if he gets injured or whatever, he will get a solid education at UCLA.

by islandbruin on Feb 1, 2008 6:59 AM PST reply actions

Both Dean and Knox Have Their Heads on Straight

From all accounts, here in Texas, Dean is known to be a good kid. He comes from a very good high school and I'm please to hear that academics played a part in his decision.

My favorite, all year, has been Knox. He is from my high school and was quoted, very early in the process, when he made his commitment, about how important school was to him.

I've yet to hear any recruit who has chosen sc say anything about the education he will get or how it will prepare it for life after football. Interesting -- I guess that's not something they talk about during recruiting visits.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Feb 1, 2008 7:21 AM PST reply actions

Dean is even better then advertised

he is an absolute monster. the fact that he puts up those numbers in one of the toughest high school leagues in the country show how good he really is.

You realize we will probably have a better recruiting class than SUC this year!

How awesome is that??

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Feb 1, 2008 7:45 AM PST reply actions

He Put Up Those Numbers

all the way to the championship game in a state that takes high school football seriously.

You're right about the overall value of our class. It appears we are getting student/athletes -- not just athletes.

At UCLA, that makes a difference.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Feb 1, 2008 7:57 AM PST up reply actions

Bowling anyone

Aundre Dean is one mean, punishing runner

by brewinz on Feb 1, 2008 9:06 AM PST reply actions

Finally

I've been holding my breath for Dean. We haven't had a back like him since Foster. I think Manny could have been very productive but our staff didn't know how to use him. Dean has the power to run over tacklers as well as the patience to wait for the hole and then hit it. We finally have a power back that we've been missing for quite a while.

This class has a lot of accolades on a national level but we better stock up on plenty of DT's & OL next year because the games are won in the trenches.

by BlueReign on Feb 1, 2008 10:12 AM PST reply actions

Me, too

I've been holding my breath on Dean ever since he de-committed. So happy to hear about this.

My hope is that his and Knox's relatively late commitments will give us some additional momentum going into the final recruiting weekend.

Let's go Hamani!!!

"We play some ball on the West Coast."

by haoledave on Feb 1, 2008 12:31 PM PST up reply actions

Uona Kaveinga

giving ucla another look, just saw it on the scout website

by deluxe207 on Feb 1, 2008 10:35 AM PST reply actions

site

http://ucla.scout.com/a.z?s=12&p=2&c=725195&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fucla.sco ut.com%2f2%2f725195.html

by deluxe207 on Feb 1, 2008 10:37 AM PST reply actions

Did you guys smell that?

I think Pom Pom just shat his pants.

This kid has some serious agility, speed and power. He is going to be big time. I think he and Knox will complement each other well, Knox seems more the MJD type, Dean is the Foster type as Bluereign mentioned. I'm already getting pumped!

by tasser10 on Feb 1, 2008 1:18 PM PST reply actions

What;s the lastest on milton??

Has anyone heard anything on Mr. Knox? Has Notre Dame become the front runner to land him? Has CRN visited with him yet? Any info would be great. Tasser has it right, if we can land Knox with Dean, we wouldhave a little thunder and lightning!!

by PasadenaBruin on Feb 1, 2008 2:21 PM PST reply actions

great news

This is incredible news getting Andre Dean. The guy is a legit, bigtime back that we have not had for a long time. I am talking as a big back. If we are lucky enough to get Knox, and don't forget incoming frosh Coleman as well......well those three are all future bigtime backs. Add them to redshirt freshman Raymond Carter and all of the sudden their is alot of competition for playing time at RB. While the Bells and Markey's are nice players, the guys we are getting are of a different, upper-level caliber. They are "future Sunday afternoon" players if they are coached up and taught effectively, which they will be under CRN and NC. Add to that a stellar group of incoming freshman WR, and Crissman/Forcier and the future looks bright. The only thing I am concerned about is the linebacker position. We always used to get NFL caliber type linebackers (Lake, Norton, etc) and we haven't had that in a while. Hopefully some of the new guys we have coming in (like Carter from Birmingham, Uona if we get him, and the others) will be the type of headhunters you need from the position. I am pumped that we are back to recruiting nationally and now have a good hold of our own backyard. We'll see how Petey Pom Pom does now that he has some comp.

by jbcoach on Feb 1, 2008 3:54 PM PST reply actions