Incoming recruit class features some of nation’s top players

By Greg Lewis
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Whatever happens in the Sun Bowl to the 6-5 Bruins, plans for
the future have already been laid.

“One of the first things we’re going to do is try
and get the defense to play the way it did the first three games of
the season,” defensive coordinator Bob Field said.

The defensive line was decimated by injuries this season, but
next year everybody, including 2000 preseason All-American end
Kenyon Coleman, will be back. Coleman and Sean Phillips missed
almost the entire season with knee and ankle injuries. Also missing
significant time due to injury were Ken Kocher, Rusty Williams,
Anthony Fletcher, Mat Ball and Asi Faoa.

One of the ways the team prepares for the future is to take
advantage of the extra practice time that a bowl berth provides.
Seniors have had the day off from practice on more than one
occasion.

“Right now we’re working on fundamentals and
techniques, as well as incorporating our young guys with
scrimmages,” head coach Bob Toledo said.

Although the defense did not perform up to expectations this
season, there will probably not be a major change in philosophy in
any part of the team.

Another area Toledo highlighted that will require attention is
the ability to break long runs.

After evaluating what works and what needs to be improved, the
coaching staff will invite other coaches from around the country to
share information. In one season when Terry Donahue was coach,
former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator and Philadelphia Eagles
head coach Buddy Ryan came to teach the nuances of the 46
defense.

One major change that could happen is the departure of offensive
coordinator Al Borges. San Jose State has contacted Borges about
its open head coaching position, and Borges has said that he is
interested.

As far as player personnel, the Bruins graduate only 12 seniors
““ including Jason Bell, Drew Bennett, Oscar Cabrera, Gabe
Crecion, Jermaine Lewis, Kory Lombard, Brian Polak, Mike Vanis,
Tony White and Jason Zdenek.

Juniors Freddie Mitchell, DeShaun Foster, Robert Thomas, Marques
Anderson and Brian Poli-Dixon have all sent letters to the NFL to
inquire as to their probable draft status, and will receive
responses some time early next year. Toledo has said that he
believes Mitchell is the only one ready for the jump. Mitchell
previously indicated that he would like to remain in Westwood, but
the fourth-year junior may be swayed if he is convinced he will be
a top draft pick.

Toledo and his staff have done a superlative job recruiting,
gaining 14 verbal commitments, including some of the top players in
the country. UCLA has the third best recruiting class in the
country according to Rivals.com, with some top prospects still
waiting to decide. The Bruins have 18 scholarships to give, 19 if
Mitchell leaves.

UCLA got off to an early start, receiving verbal pledges from
three top players within a day of signing day for the class of
2000. Safety Matt Ware (Los Angeles), linebacker Marvin Simmons
(Long Beach) and offensive lineman Bob Cleary (Lake Elsinore,
Calif.), all tops at their position in California, gave the Bruins
the jumpstart to the recruiting drive.

“I committed so early because I’ve been a Bruin all
my life,” Ware said. “My family has season tickets, and
I see the program on the rise. It just felt right.”

The three said they quickly got to work helping recruit some of
area’s other top players.

The other 11 recruits, in chronological order of commitment:

• Ed Blanton (6-foot-9, 300 pounds, OL, Napa, Calif.): Huge
  lineman who chose UCLA early over Michigan and Nebraska. Very
  strong but will probably redshirt to work on technique.
• Jacques Lazarus (6-2, 190, Athlete, Palisades, Calif.): Highly
  productive and versatile running back who may end up in the
  defensive backfield.
• John Sciarra, Jr. (6-1, 185, QB, La Cañada, Calif.): Heady
  quarterback and the son the 1976 UCLA Rose Bowl winning
  quarterback. Shows excellent poise and confidence in the
  pocket.
• Collin Barker (6-9, 315, OL, Wortham, Texas): Toledo scores big
  again in Texas with this mammoth offensive lineman. Size alone
  makes him a player to keep an eye on.
• Spencer Havner (6-3 220, LB, Nevada City, Calif.): Tough, with
  a nose for the ball, just like a linebacker should be. Could
  contribute right away.
• Matt Mosebar (6-8, 265, OL, Santa Ynez, Calif.): Athletically
  gifted lineman with great bloodlines; he is the nephew of former
  NFL great Don Mosebar. Also standout volleyball player.
• Matt Clark (5-10, 175, RB/DB, Reseda, Calif.): Track star who
  is tough as nails. Probably will be moved to the secondary, where
  his speed will serve him well.
• Marcus Cassell (6-0, 170, CB, Bellflower, Calif.): Tremendous
  athlete, but still raw. Offered a scholarship based mostly on
  potential. Huge upside.
• Tyler Ebell (5-8, 170, RB, Ventura, Calif.): National
  single-season record holder with 4,220 rushing yards, and he still
  has one game left. Rushed for more touchdowns in senior year (61
  for a state record) than scoring machine Foster (54) did as a
  senior. Nicknamed Mighty Mouse, Ebell is not physically imposing,
  but says his vision is his biggest asset.
• Junior Taylor (6-3, 185, WR, Mesa, Ariz.): Bruins scored a coup
  from the desert with the big and speedy Taylor. If Mitchell leaves,
  Taylor could be given a shot to play his first year.
• Jibril Raymo (6-3, 200, S, Beverly Hills, Calif.): The second
  best safety in California has a reputation as a huge hitter. Born
  to play strong safety

Top players UCLA is still after:

• Michael Craven (6-1, 215, LB, La Quinta, Calif.): Competing
  with Simmons and Kevin Simon for the honor of being the top
  linebackers in the country. Still deciding between UCLA and
  Stanford but may be leaning towards the Bruins.
• Kevin Simon (5-11, 215, LB, Concorde, Calif.): A definite
  winner: he has never lost a game in high school at De La Salle.
  Incredibly strong athlete with a mean streak. If Craven and Simon
  both committed to UCLA, along with Havner, it would probably be the
  best group of high school linebackers ever to go to one
  school.
• Shaun Cody (6-5, 255, DE, Hacienda Heights, Calif.): The best
  pass-rusher in the country, he has huge stats despite being
  constantly double and triple-teamed. Also excels at tight end.
  Toledo i s fighting Notre Dame, and Cody might be at the top of the
  Bruin wish list.
• Quan Cosby (5-10, 180, ATH/DB, Mart, Texas): Versatile athlete
  who is coveted by many of the nation’s top programs. Is a
  capable returner as well as cornerback and quarterback.
• Nic Costa (5-11, 190, QB/DB, Aloha, Ore.): Toledo likes bigger
  quarterbacks, but with Costa’s tremendous speed, he may come
  on board as a DB and try his arm at quarterback. Strong arm and
  incredible footspeed.
• Reggie Williams (6-4, 215, WR, Tacoma, Wash.): The
  nation’s top wide receiver whose skills have been described
  as freakish. Has also caused numerous injuries as a hard-hitting
  safety. Probably a long-shot for but still someone for whom the
  coaches will keep a scholarship open.

There will most likely be some surprise recruits come signing
day, with UCLA scrambling to attract defensive lineman in
particular.

UCLA opens the 2001 season with games at Alabama, at Kansas and
home against Ohio State. Against them the Bruins should have an
early idea of what kind of season to expect.