Passing Down Best of the West: Recruiting notes on top prospects

IRVINE, Calif. – The Passing Down Best of the West 7on7 tournament was held here Sunday. Here are some of the latest recruiting notes from some of the top prospects in the West region.

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Amon-Ra St. Brown remains open to all programs. The five-star receiver recently talked with the UCLA coaching staff as he listens to all teams early in his recruitment.

The pitch from the Bruins was interesting, but the Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei standout has been talking more regularly with other staffs so UCLA has some ground to make up.

“They just told me I’d have a great, fair chance of starting,” St. Brown said.

“The receivers they have now, the only one that’s like potentially NFL Draft is Jordan Lasley. The other ones are young. They don’t have a really good receiver class this year so they said I could come in there and make a difference.”

As for upcoming visits, St. Brown said he could visit Stanford during the summer and he’d love to see Ohio State and Michigan. Official visits to Notre Dame and Stanford are also being considered, and USC remains one of the top teams as well.

Four-star linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu recently returned from important unofficial visits to Alabama, Ohio State and Oregon, and he saw something good at each of those schools.

The Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei standout loved the coaching staff at Oregon, their relationship with the players and the networking opportunities there, especially with Nike and Phil Knight.

Meeting with Alabama coach Nick Saban was important; Tuliaupupu broke down Reuben Foster’s film with defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Jeremy Pruitt in Tuscaloosa.

“Very professional dude, all business,” Tuliaupupu said of Saban.

Going to Ohio State was also a big deal for Tuliaupupu, who has been serious about the Buckeyes for a while. He really gravitated to linebackers coach Bill Davis and was impressed by the intensity of spring practice.

As for which visit was best, the four-star wasn’t biting.

“I couldn’t decide if my life depended on it,” Tuliaupupu said.

The four-star linebacker said he would like to visit Oklahoma, Michigan and Georgia before his senior season. USC remains one of the frontrunners as well.

Isaah Crocker is one of the best receivers in California this recruiting cycle, but he could be looking slightly north to play his college ball.

Oregon and Oregon State have intrigued the Sacramento (Calif.) Inderkum for numerous reasons. He has talked about being a package deal with new Oregon pledge Spencer Webb, so that could be a huge positive for the Ducks.

“They’re loving me,” Crocker said. “Coaches are supposed to come down for spring ball and they’re talking to me every day. That’s good.”

But Oregon State is definitely a contender along with Cal, UCLA and others.

With the Beavers, Crocker is close with former teammate Trajon Cotton, who’s now at Oregon State, plus a bunch of other TMP Elite players – including Isaiah Hodgins – are now in Corvallis. That cannot be discounted.

Crocker said he plans to book an official visit to Oregon for its game against Oregon State, and his last trip will be to Corvallis.

UCLA and Notre Dame have emerged as the two frontrunners for three-star defensive back D’Angelo McKenzie, and the Bruins might have the edge in his recruitment.

The San Jose (Calif.) Valley Christian standout was at the UCLA spring game this past weekend, and he’s developed a great relationship with position coach Demetrice Martin.

Seeing him as a free safety, Martin has reportedly told McKenzie he can come down, hit and make plays, and it’s resonating with the three-star.

“It was very good to see the DB coach again, chat it up with him and see the competition, the size I need to be to get out there,” McKenzie said. “It was very good to get out there.”

Bryce Young is a 2020 quarterback, but he has tremendous talent, so he’s getting a jumpstart on some visits leading up to his sophomore season.

The Los Angeles Cathedral standout is considering a trip to Miami and definitely wants to get to Oklahoma. Returning to Texas Tech is also a serious possibility.

“I’ve had a relationship with Oklahoma for a while now,” Young said. “Oklahoma has always been a place high on my radar. I want to go to Norman and see how it fits.”

Seeing Texas Tech again will be important for Young especially after he saw quarterback Patrick Mahomes taken in the first round of last week’s NFL Draft. Camping at USC and UCLA is also expected this summer.

Malone Mataele is one of the speediest and most versatile prospects in California this recruiting cycle, so his commitment to Utah is especially important.

The three-star athlete from Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita Catholic said he’s expected to be used all over the Utah offense – at running back, catching passes out of the backfield and in the slot.

He described Utah’s offense as “quick-shooting” with lots of passing – and Mataele could not be more excited.

“I’ll have the chance to do it all,” Mataele said.

“People are still coming through. We start spring ball (Monday). Coaches are trying to persuade me different ways but I’m 110 percent committed to being a Ute.”