Nottingham Decommits from UCLA
by EdO'B3017 on Jan 16, 2010 1:58 AM PST
Email
PrintBrett Nottingham, QB from Monte Vista High, is visiting Stanford this weekend:
During his official visit to Stanford on Friday, he orally committed to coach Jim Harbaugh.
"I talked about the decision with my parents and sisters, some of my (Monte Vista) coaches and the main thing was academics," Nottingham said. "This is an important life-decision and Stanford academics are in a league of their own."
He originally committed to UCLA on June 23, but slowly found himself leaning toward Stanford, which continued to recruit him throughout the season.
"I've been thinking about my future a lot lately and the more I thought about it, the more I kept envisioning Stanford being a part of it," Nottingham said. "A degree from Stanford will set you up for life."
Nottingham called UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel on Friday to inform him of his decision.
UPDATE (N): Not all that worked up over this recruiting loss (See comments from muircoch). I hope CRN doesn't bother re-recruiting him. The best case scenario IMHO is Prince (fingers crossed) really comes through with a solid and healthy season, requiring only mopup duties (which we can look to either Crissman or Landers for). Then redshirt Brehaut and space the roster out a bit. This decommitt hopefully will allow the staff to open up another spot for a DE, DL or an OL. Good luck to Brett up at the Farm. He is going to need it when the program is looking for a new coach after Harbaugh moves on either to the NFL or goes home to Ann Arbor. 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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Well, let's trade Zumwalt for Nottingham then.
It just shows that kids will change their minds. Like Yogi Berra said “It ain’t over until it’s over.” Let’s see if CRN and staff can finish strong in these last 2 1/2 weeks until signing day.
Disappointing. Still time to change his mind though . . .
I am a little concerned about the QB spacing with both Prince and Brehaut “on the same track.” Not sure if Crissman will ever be in the mix. We need another top notch QB this season or next year’s class will be critical.
This is somewhat of a surprise to me given the Chow situation
Harbaugh probably spun some story about Chow eventually leaving. I think is likely to leave Stanford before Chow leaves UCLA
The thing is
even if that story was spun, that kid has to realize Harbaugh will likely be gone when a top tier D1 or NFL program offers him a job. Harbaugh is probably NFL talent as a coach.
I think were fine with QBs at the moment.
Like Orlando said, there is always next year.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Never too many
but yeah, we are probably fine. Would be nice to have some talent in the upcoming class though.
by 84 on Jan 16, 2010 8:16 AM PST up reply actions
Surprised
He would have been positioned to take over as a RS Jr as long as he beats out whomever we sign in the future. Maybe he feels Luck will leave early and he can start for an extra year.
I liked what I read about him and the QB spacing is a concern. If he sticks with Stanford, I still think we’ll be fine as long as the loser of the QB battle does not transfer out.
Agreed
Let Robin HOOD enjoy the Farm keeping Luck’s jockstrap clean . . . this guys was showed up by Shawn Mannion who is heading to Beaverdom . . . we don’t need a guy that chooses Stanford over UCLA after commiting 6 months prior due the “academics.” I wish that a-hole all the best while Norm Chow stays at UCLA.
We are fine.
Nottingham had an average arm and was really a average quarterback. A coaching friend of mine from up north said that Nottingham was a good qb, but that he really gained alot from his reputation from just committing to the Bruins early. Stanford started a freshman stud (Luck) this year, so he’ll be riding the pine for at least three years. While Luck is good, he isn’t good enough to leave after his Jr. year, so Nottingham will be sitting a while. This will work out fine and CRN or CNC will have no problem either getting another QB this year………or better yet waiting until next year when a better quarterback than Nottingham (it is a great qb class next year) will see the opportunity and come to Westwood. SUC obviously has Barkley, and now a talented frosh coming in with Scroggins. With Prince and Brehaut both going into their sophomore years, we’ll have our pick of fine, talented qb’s from anywhere we want that will see an opportunity to come in and play quickly, under CRC….or for that matter a talented transfer from another top program who see’s the opportunity.
Two other quick reminders…….1) Prince in incredibly injury-prone so Brehaut is sure to play next year. That is why it is good that he got experience last year. Prince was injured his entire senior year at Crespi HS, and last year missed various time with injury. Brehaut knows that and will hang, even if he loses the competition in the spring.
2) If this opens up a spot for a talented DT, DE, or LB………..then I am more than happy to trade Nottingham.
My only real concern is the Zumwalt is being courted, talked to, pressured, etc…..by both Nottingham and Harbaugh right now. Hopefully the kid is strong enough to not bend and be a Bruin. Zumwalt is a stud, and if he comes to Westwood he can be a real difference-maker. I want him bad.
Re. Brehaut
The best case scenario IMHO is Prince (fingers crossed) really comes through with a solid and healthy season, requiring only mopup duties (which we can look to either Crissman or Landers for). Then redshirt Brehaut and space the roster out a bit.
As for Luck, should be interesting how Stanford does without Gerhart and then without Harbaugh who will probably move on when Michigan fires Rodriguez in two seasons.
now that I think about it...
Correct me if i’m wrong, but in my 4 years at UCLA (i’m a senior), we have never had one quarterback consistently start every game for the entire season. Let’s hope we buck that trend next year.
Troy is burning
by bruinbasketball on Jan 31, 2010 1:50 AM PST up reply actions
i'm only counting 1st string quarterbacks here
Troy is burning
by bruinbasketball on Jan 31, 2010 1:53 AM PST up reply actions
A couple of other interesting things
that I forgot which kind of relates to this. First, Jr. QB Evan Crower, from San Diego St. Augustine (actually the same school which produced the Forcier boys) orally committed to Stanford a few months ago. I am sure CRN will make that clear to Nottingham when he can speak to him. Crower is SURE to be one of the top-rated QB’s in the country next year. I am sure Crower will be seeing the news of Nottingham going to Stanford as well, so who knows how that will all pan out. I gotta believe that Crower had it all figured out that he’d be able to step in for Luck, and now his head will at least be filled with questions. If Nottingham has his my set on Stanford, good luck to him because it is an incredible school and I will wish him the best of luck. I don’t hold it against him at all.
Secondly, when looking at top QB’s now, CRN has an interesting dilemna that even I didn’t think of until writing my last post. Next year CRN’s son Jerry will be a top qb, but not one of the elite in the area. That poses an interesting situation for CRN. I wouldn’t want to be in that situation. I haven’t seen enough of Jerry N. to say how good he is, but he does play at Loyola, which is a great football school. Wow. To be in that house this coming year. My guess, we get Jerry N. and another top QB in next year’s class. But that is purely a guess.
Neu is a pretty stand up guy
I can see him taking his son but not giving him a scholarship. If Jerry WANTS to go to UCLA, I bet that Neu takes him but does not burn a scholarship since he makes enough to pay (and is there some sort of employee discount on tuition of children? I know a lot of private high schools do that.)
No discount
My folks teach there and I was offered absolutely nothing in terms of discounts. At $UC and other private schools, free (or heavily discounted) tuition is the norm.
Hey now
Calling $C a private high school is an insult to high schools throughout this country.
formerly bruinhoo
I doubt many
$C grads could get into the private high schools around here.
by Captain Leebeard on Jan 16, 2010 7:52 PM PST up reply actions
My guess
If Jerry and CRN decide that UCLA would be the place for him (coach a son can be tricky), I think he comes in as a Walk On and we get another top notch QB recruit next season. And agree that we could really use the ride to fill a more pressing need.
Jerry
From what we have heard he is going to walk on at UCLA (will not take up a scholie). Per observers close to the situation, I hear he will be one of the top guys in Southern Cal, but probably in the 40s range, in terms of national ranking at QBs. Walking on at UCLA as a QB worked out real well for someone else in Jerry’s family.
And I completely agree
with the other sentiments that we need a DT or OL spot much more than we need a third string QB right now. I think we get a great QB next year and our spacing does just fine, as Brehaut will redshirt at SOME point during his career.
I am in agreement.
I think if we can use this to our advantage by filling a much needed position with the scholarship, then I have no issues with it at all. If we can pick up a quality OL or DL that can come in and make a difference in the next two years, I am totally good with it.
Good luck to Nottingham at Stanford. Not that he can’t get a good education at UCLA, if Stanford is his choice, props to him for making the decision based on education.
I think CRN will make this a +
Given the options with Prince and Brehaut at QB we are fine for now. The only minor issue is the collateral effect on other potential recruits. IIRC Nottingham was recruiting other top guys to join him at UCLA. If so, his help is out the window.
I think we have to just be patient and hold our breaths. CRN can recruit with anybody in the country. I am confident he will turn this “loss” into a major positive by using the open scholie for someone really phenomenal at another position of need.
I am missing what changed about Stanford's academics?
I am guessing what really changed is he committed to us as his backup, and when he got through Stanford admissions, had no more use for us and dumped us.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Jan 16, 2010 11:51 AM PST reply actions
It sounds like...
Nottingham realizes he has a very low probability of ever making a living as a pro QB.
bummer, but good luck to the kid
He’s a NorCal kid who’s staying home. I’m a bit surprised by this because he has family ties to UCLA. While I LOVE UCLA, I can’t fault him for going to Stanford. We’ll be okay because we have two sophomore QBs, but it’s imperative we lock up a QB next year.
Nottingham
Funny thing is that one of my colleagues told me a month or two ago that he was at one of Nottingham’s HS games this season (his son goes to the same school) and he saw Harbaugh sitting in the stands. At halftime, Harbaugh went down on the field to chat with Nottingham’s parents, who seemed very happy to see him and were chatting like old friends. I didn’t think too much about it since Nottingham seemed pretty strong in his commitment.
Yep
The rumor has been out there for a while. From what I have heard Nottingham might have been a silent commit to Stanford for a while and was just waiting for clearance for admissions. He apparently played UCLA staff and then flipped strategically on a Friday (despite making less than sincere comments to recruiting sites such as BRO) to give Stanford a strategic recruiting boost.
Not really impressed with the kid. But I guess he is a 17 year old kid after all. Hope it all works out for him and he gets what he wants in life. We will be fine.
Can't wait.
Need to reference this thread once the kid if ever gets his first start against us. Probably be a while, but hopefully the players remember this and lay him on his back a few extra times.
More Nottingham thoughts
The rumors re. Nottingham and Stanford have been floating around for a few months, although Nottingham had been quick to deny them whenever reporters had asked about them (including in a discussion with BRO a day before he switched his commitment). I don’t mind a recruit deciding that he would rather attend another school/play for another program; we are talking about where a young person is going to spend the next 4-5 years of his life, and in the case of a high-level football recruit, giving himself the opportunity to become a prospect for the next level.
What does bother me is the apparent duplicity of the situation. While none of us knows exactly what Nottingham’s thoughts and intentions are, Nestor’s comment reflects the most reasonable conclusion that comes to mind – somewhere in the process, he either secretly committed to Stanford – subject to admissions clearance, or at lest became a Stanford lean, while reiterating a strong commitment to UCLA. It makes sense for him, so far as if he did not get cleared at the Farm, he had his UCLA scholarship to fall back on, but shady in that it screws us over without (an undenied) warning that it was a possibility, leaving CRN/CNC little chance to recruit another QB before signing day.
While it is unfortunate that he decided to recind his commitment, it is more unfortunate to see someone, even a ‘kid’, display the USC-caliber ethical behavior that came to light in the past couple of days.
formerly bruinhoo
Ya
Both of his sisters went to UCLA. One is a senior and one graduated a year or two ago. Lets just say they aren’t bad looking at all. (And yes i know that their attractive-ness has nothing to do with it)
by lil eg not cs on Jan 17, 2010 6:18 PM PST up reply actions
Edison (Fresno) Rykeem Yates, DE, committed to UCLA
Yates is a teammate of UCLA commitsTevon McDonald and Wes Flowers.
While Oakland teammates visited UCLA last weekend Ryan Murphy and Fred Thompson committed to OSU.
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