The Next Skip Hicks?

by Nestor on Apr 20, 2007 4:39 AM PDT in Recruiting Comment 7 comments

Bruins get a commitment from a Texas (prepstar) RB. Jill Painter has the story:

Aundre Dean, a star running back from Texas, never gave serious thought to leaving the state and gave an early commitment to Texas A&M.

He later withdrew that, then took his recruiting visit to Westwood. And Dean, who plays for Katy High, just outside Houston, verbally committed to UCLA on Wednesday evening.

"I went out there and thought there was no way I'd go there," said Dean, who will be part of the 2008 class for UCLA.

"But the coaches seemed real cool. They were genuine people. My mom asked a million questions, and we felt it was a good place to play. I'll get a chance to play early. There will be competition, but it's better that you have to work for what you want."

Dean's verbal commitment, which is non-binding until he signs a letter of intent, is a big deal for the Bruins. Dean is an accomplished running back from a football crazed state. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Dean and ran for 2,100 yards and scored 27 touchdowns last year.

He was a first-team all-district and all-greater Houston selection, as well as an all-state honorable mention selection.

Dean still took his official visit to Texas A&M after he withdrew his commitment. He went to Westwood on his spring break.

Aaaah. Spring break in beautiful Westwood ... leading to a commitment. You wonder why we keep talking about UCLA's "natural advantages."

Anywhoo welcome to Mr. Dean. He may be getting to show his stuff under a different HC, should the coaches he committed to bring home a Pac-10 championship next season.

GO BRUINS.

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Maybe, just maybe, he came BECAUSE of Dorrell?

He obviously likes the coaching staff. Looks as if Dorrell has got the recruiting train well-oiled (finally.) Now, of course, it's time to show it on the field.

by Babalu on Apr 20, 2007 6:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I can see how KD would be a good recruiter

He has unquestionable integrity and character. He's the kind of guy that parents would trust and stands in direct counterpoint to the slime like PC.

He's probably the choice for parents who care more about their kid's character than they do about success on the football field.

Let's give him credit for this one and for reopening the Texas highway to UCLA that we recruited so well in the past.

Until you live here, you have no idea how important HS football (and even Middle school football) is. Priorities down here are a bit different. So, the talent pool is large and I'd like to see us swimming in the deep end.

Rare for me -- congrats KD.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 20, 2007 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta give it up for the coaching staff...

Nowadays it is a big deal to be able to recruit out of Texas because of the way that Mack Brown and the Longhorns recruit. They're not aggressive recruiters like Petie or Urban Meyer, but they've put together something very impressive and respectable over here, and they can just pick and choose their recruits. I hope they don't offer Dean down the road because they might just change his mind. I want to see him true blue.

"I've got nothing against God; it's his fan club I can't stand."

by txbruin on Apr 20, 2007 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs