[UPDATE] Four Star RB Jordon James Commits to Bruins!
by muircoach on Nov 13, 2009 4:10 AM PST
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PrintBumped. GO BRUINS. - N
Great News!! Say what you will, but the talent coming into Westwood these past few years is much, much, much better than in the previous regime. In fact, it isn't even close. Just got done watching ESPNU, fully expecting Jordon James to commit to Cal because of our depth at the RB position, and especially with Jones from Oaks coming in too, but to my amazement, the young man picked our Bruins. This guy can run the ball, and he has very good hands too. He is the type of player we want in our program. He is a playmaker who is very skilled. The tailback position is loaded for years to come and the fact that James will come to compete against all the other guys we have says wonders about his commitment and the type of person that he is. He isn't fazed at all, and I love that.
CRN and the rest of his staff is putting together an incredible staff, and our talent level is increasing with every commitment we get. The recruits can feel the love that CRN has for UCLA, and I hope that we are all patient enough to let him and his staff work their magic. While it may not be as fast as we'd like, I am happy with the talent level being raised and having confidence in the direction of the program.
Welcome to Westwood Jordan. We are very glad to have you!!
UPDATE (N): muircoach who just seems to be breaking one good news after another on BN pointed to the following update on Jordon on WWL:
ESPNU 150 prospect Jordon James (Corona, Calif.) committed to UCLA over California and Arizona Thursday night at halftime of the Ball State vs. Northern Illinois on ESPNU.
ESPN's Billy Tucker said of the news, "We feel Jordan James could end up being one of the more prolific college backs to come out of this 2010 class. Playing at UCLA in Norm Chow's pro-style offense should only exploit his every-down qualities and back that assessment."
"James is far more than just a speed back with great burst and quickness through hole. The future Bruin can lower the pads and utilize his compact, deceptively powerful frame to break initial contact and get the tough downhill yards."
"Injuries are the only red flag that will accompany him to the next level but when healthy James shows elite ability at the running back position and is a major in-state keep for UCLA."
With James and Jones now in the fold UCLA is going to be set at the TB spot for a while.James becomes the 13th commitment for class of 2010.
Guess we should have also read the tea-leaves when coaches earlier this week sent signal via the LAT that they were not interested in pursuing Darryl Scott. CRN continues to bring in talent and if we finish the season on a strong note, he is going to pick up even more momentum on the recruiting trail. GO BRUINS.
UPDATE II (N): A quick post up on this story on LAT which has the following on JJ's speed and the season he is having so far:
James, who has been clocked at 4.4 seconds for 40 yards, has gained 1,132 yards this season and averaged 8.7 yards a carry.
Sounds good to me. GO BRUINS.
UPDATE III (N): Jon Gold from the Daily News has a solid story on Jordon's commitment. Gold interviews Brandon Huffman from Bruin Report Online who offered the following observations what Jordon brings to the table and how he will fit in UCLA's backfield:
"James is speed," Huffman said. "Yeah, they have speed with Thigpen and Franklin, but I don't think it's between-the-tackle speed so much. That's where James and Jones come in - they're not afraid to take on the contact, and they can put a move on a linebacker. I saw (James) play last Friday and he had two stop-and-go moves on a linebacker and he was just gone."
Huffman also pointed out the significance of reeling in recruit like James in terms of making UCLA's presence felt in Southern California's rich recruiting scene:
Huffman said that snagging a star player from the Inland Empire, an emerging football hotbed, is key, as is the interest being shown from major powerhouses such as Oaks Christian and Mater Dei.
"It's crucial - when you look at the schools that are constantly cranking out the talent, it's Mater Dei, Oaks Christian, Corona Centennial, where they got (freshman wide receiver) Ricky Marvray," Huffman said.
"It's crucial to get some of those players as consistently as they can. It shows the younger guys that they have a former teammate at a future school. It makes it acceptable to go to UCLA again. When you look at Mater Dei and Oaks Christian, it took some time to get those guys, but this could be the start of a run they'll have at those schools."
Sounds good to me. GO BRUINS.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Forgot to give you
all this link if you’d like to read about our newest Bruin. Here it is:
Go Bruins.
He was one of our silent commits
It’s good to hear a guy say it though because silents always seem a bit shaky to me. He’s a real gamebreaker who has great explosion so while we still have JetSki, Knox, Coleman, Thigpen, he and Jones’ styles will compliment each other well. Welcome to Westwood Jordon!
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 12, 2009 5:23 PM PST reply actions
How many silents are there?
Rumors were out there that Taula is a silent as well. Hope there’s more. I’m loving the pub and talent Jordon brings but I’m really confused about our recruiting this year.
I knew of two
Innis and him. Those were the only two I had heard of.
Although, I have to say I was getting pretty unsure in last 72 hours (although the signal coaches sent re. Darryl Scott earlier this week should have tipped us off I guess).
This is HUGE NEWS!
I worry
that we’ll become like USC with too many RBs and no single go to guy.
I want to read news of 5 star OL and DL studs before I start celebrating recruiting classes.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
Perhaps you should be a little patient
and wait till the recruiting season plays out. Nothing wrong with celebrating infusion of talent in our program.
I agree with Mexi though
While I will never bemoan a great recruit, if I had to choose, right now it would be an OL or DL guy. That is just because it is the position of greatest need. Jordon could very well prove to be the best of our backs and I will not complain. Its just that he will struggle if we don’t continue to bring in guys like Baca, Sua’Filo, Hasiak, Maiava (though he was a transfer), and maybe even a few better!
Coaches are working on getting OL/DLs
And while they are doing that they can’t be sitting on their hands wrt to getting talent infusion at skill positions. So the handwringing over getting a 4 star RB is really silly.
it's not hand wringing so much
As Sponkey21 said, no one is going to bemoan the landing of 4 star athlete. it is just a comment of riches at the RB position and poverty in the trenches. (depthwise anyway)
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
I know we have a lot of RBs...
But if you look at the details, it may not be quite as bad. We’re really thin at fullback – I wouldn’t be surprised if someone like Coleman actually got moved to fullback next year.
Thigpen’s not even really a running back – he’ll see plenty of time on the field as a flex-play out wide or in the Wildcat, and I think Knox will be used fairly often in the wildcat as well.
That leaves (just thinking) JetSki, Jones and James in the backfield. 3 RBs isn’t really a ton, if you think about it. I suppose one of those three could transfer.
These seem like "Norm Chow" guys
Players that can threaten you from a lot of different places on the field. I’m excited at the prospect of getting a OC like Norm the players he knows how to use. He will find a way to get our shifty speedsters out into open space with the ball and next thing you know we’ll be kicking the point after.
I also see Coleman shifting into the FB role the way things are shaping up. I just hope the coaches notify him about that early if that’s their intention so that he can use the entire offseason to work on blocking.
I'm not even sure Jones stays at Runing back
he has the ability to play other positions, particularly if he keeps growing.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 12, 2009 10:26 PM PST up reply actions
With the rise in talent from the Inland Empire
don’t underestimate the importance of getting a guy from that area, not just because James is a great runner, but for getting guys from the area in the future.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 12, 2009 6:27 PM PST reply actions
Using the chopper to fly into IE
seems to be working. Last year we got:
Brehaut (Los Osos)
Marvray (Corona Centennial)
Brandon Sermons (he is from Pomona, but I think we can almost count that as IE)
Jared Koster (still waiting for him to enroll this winter)
This year we now have James, who I thought was the biggest recruit out of 909/951 area code. Now if CRN can do some magic with Don Antonio Lugo’s Uko … ooof.
Gotta finish strong on the field and that starts with getting it done on Sat.
Barr
Is he being recruited as RB or LB by CRN? He’s down to ND and UCLA. Don’t really understand why anyone would want to play for Weis.
I've seen Barr play twice in
person, and he started at RB and strong safety. He’s just an incredible athlete.
As for James, I saw him play early this season. On one play, he caught a screen pass, had a little room and was gone for an 80-yard touchdown. Great speed. But the point made about injuries is correct — he got hurt late in the first quarter when I watched him. Still, he has all the potential to be a great RB. Huge commitment for CRN!
by BruinFanBaby on Nov 13, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
He's being recruited as an athlete
Probably defense.
I like the description in the recruiting world that a guy is being recruited as "an athlete."
This is to prevent confusion with all the guys who are being recruited as “a file clerk” or “an internal auditor.” Of course, at some other schools, some kids get recruited as “a best friend of a star player.”
I don't know about you
But I’d happily be recruited as an internal auditor. I’ll even go last when it comes time to choose numbers.
Do you think
these kids are being recruited? :)
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
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