Football team sows another bumper crop of freshmen

Thursday, February 4, 1999

Football team sows another bumper crop of freshmen

SIGNINGS: Top players agree to come to UCLA; class one of
nation’s best

By Jeff Kmiotek

Daily Bruin Staff

A talented group of 20 high-school seniors can call themselves
Bruins after signing letters-of-intent on Wednesday.

The 1999 class of recruits is ranked in the top five in the
nation by most publications, including No. 2 by CNN/SI. The class
is led by five Parade Magazine All-Americans, who are all also
ranked among the nation’s top 40 players by RivalNet. Tight end
Mike Seidman, quarterback J.P. Losman, linebacker Marcus Reese and
offensive linemen Shane Lehmann and Bryce Bohlander all garnered
national honors

"We are excited about this class of recruits," said head coach
Bob Toledo. "We feel we recruited quality players at every
position. The offensive and defensive lines were priorities for us
and we feel the young men in this class will help give us the
needed quality depth we are looking for."

The latest to commit is Seidman, who announced his choice of
UCLA over USC at a press conference Wednesday morning.

"The program is definitely going to be huge over the next couple
of years. It feels good to be a part of it," Seidman said. "I think
I have a good chance to play next year, hopefully if I can learn
the offense and work hard."

Seidman is one of the top two tight end prospects in the nation,
and looks to make an impact with the departure of seniors Mike
Grieb and Ryan Neufeld.

Odds are Seidman will eventually be catching passes from Losman,
who is ranked as one of the top three quarterbacks in the nation in
virtually every recruiting publication. Losman will graduate early
from Venice High and enroll at UCLA in time for spring practice,
where he will be competing with four other quarterbacks for playing
time in 1999.

Whoever is quarterbacking the Bruins will have great protection
for years to come, as two of the top five offensive linemen in the
nation are headed to Westwood. Lehmann, from Corona, and Bohlander,
out of Oregon, add 555 pounds of power.

Wide receiver Jerry Owens adds great depth to what may be the
top receiving corps in the nation next season. Owens, ranked in the
top 10 nationally at his position, will be competing for a spot
behind Danny Farmer, Freddie Mitchell and Brian Poli-Dixon.

The Bruins also added depth at running back, as Monrovia’s Akil
Harris recently de-committed from Colorado to come to UCLA. Harris,
who wanted to stay near home, is ranked in the top 20 backs and may
get some playing time next year.

Nathan Fikse, a place kicker from Anaheim, may see immediate
playing time with the graduation of Chris Sailer. Fikse is rated
the No. 1 kicker in the Western Region by PrepStar.

The final offensive recruit is wide receiver Ryan Smith from
Texas.

On defense, UCLA finished second to Michigan State in the
competition for linebacker T.J Duckett, but still ended with a
strong defensive unit.

Marcus Reese, California’s top linebacker and one of the top
five in the country at his position, "is aggressive and fast,"
according to current Bruin safety Audie Attar. Attar added, "We
need some aggressiveness on the defense, so he was a great
addition."

The Bruins also landed 305-pound defensive tackle Rodney Leisle
of Bakersfield. There is a good chance that Leisle will contribute
next year in an attempt to shore up the defense.

Defensive lineman Steve Sanchez is another monster, weighing in
at 290 pounds. Sanchez is the nephew of former Bruin cornerback
Lupe Sanchez.

There are also family ties at defensive end, where twins David
and Matt Ball will play. The Balls were both PrepStar
All-Americans.

UCLA assistant coach Ed Kezirian’s son, Blane, also signed on
with the Bruins at the linebacker position. The other linebacker
signees are Dennis Link and Asi Faoa. The athletic Link was rated
the No. 12 linebackers in the Western Region.

The Bruins secondary will be getting some much-needed help from
cornerback Ricky Manning, a RivalNet top 100 player. Manning will
also attempt to play baseball at UCLA. DaShaun McCullough, another
PrepStar All-American, will also battle for playing time at
cornerback.

Free safety Ryan Wikert, ranked the No. 8 defensive back in the
West, looks to become one of the hardest hitters on the squad.
Lastly, athletic defensive back Kevin Brant committed to UCLA over
Maryland, the alma mater of his father, television commentator Tim
Brant.

The Bruins have only one of their 21 scholarships unused, and it
may go to the extremely talented Alex Holmes of nearby
Harvard-Westlake. The 300-pound Holmes has put together amazing
statistics as a tight end and as a defensive lineman.

Holmes, just one English class away from senior status, is
petitioning the NCAA for college eligibility. He said his favorite
school right now is UCLA, and has even contacted basketball coach
Steve Lavin about the possibility of joining the men’s hoops
squad.

UCLA’s recruiting haul gives the Bruins back-to-back stellar
classes. Last year’s class was the best class in the country
according to most recruiting publications.

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