The final weekend for official visits before signing day saw some big trips taken to Pac-12 programs and a few important commitments, while one program got started in earnest on 2016 recruiting.
Beavers bag two
Oregon State coaches have rallied their class after taking over in early December. With several top prospects following former head coach Mike Riley to Nebraska and others leaving or being nudged out of the class, Gary Andersen and staff have done a nice job rebounding and filling their 2015 class. The top five commits have all made their pledges since Jan. 17, and two of those came this weekend in running back Deltron Sands and linebacker Christian Folau.
I am proud to say I'm officially committed to Oregon State University 😈 pic.twitter.com/vvSpWWfz1L
— 2⃣ RAN⛽️Z ❗️ (@LegendarySands4) January 31, 2015
I have decided to officially commit to Oregon State University! #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/o1LJ4Z0e0u
— Christian Folau (@1_LBEAST) February 1, 2015
Folau is a former Stanford commit who also looked hard at Oklahoma State, Utah and Wisconsin. He is now the top-ranked prospect in Oregon State's class, while Sands continues the Beavers' reach into Florida. He is the fifth Sunshine State prospect in this class and the fourth to commit to Andersen.
UCLA's final push
The Bruins had several of their committed prospects on campus for official visits this weekend, including cornerback Colin Samuel, who received a strong late push from Michigan in an attempt to bring him out on an official visit. Samuel instead opted to firm up his commitment to the Bruins. He visited UCLA this weekend along with two significant Bruins targets in ESPN 300 cornerback DeChaun Holiday and ESPN 300 defensive tackle Joseph Wicker, both pictured alongside Samuel in this tweet.
UCLA official, and yes yall will catch me in the 31 next year! #4sUP pic.twitter.com/qOkgjFPCRb
— UCLA'19 (@Colinsamuel9) January 31, 2015
Holiday is scheduled to announce his commitment later Sunday, and it would be a huge surprise if the standout defensive back lands anywhere other than UCLA. Wicker will announce on signing day and is down to Arizona State, Texas Tech and UCLA -- but again, he is likely to wind up with the Bruins.
Oregon's other visitors
Plenty of attention was paid late last week to Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams, who could very likely become an Oregon quarterback in the near future. Adams took a visit to Oregon this weekend and has an opportunity, should he choose to take it, to transfer schools without having to sit out a year as a graduate student.
But the Ducks are also looking to finish out the 2015 class at the linebacker position and have their sights set on Washington State commitment Jonah Moi.
Finally in Eugene, Oregon 🚩
— Jonah Moi (@Onsince95) January 30, 2015
This Ducks jumped on Moi in a big way after missing on a few other targets throughout the process and should have a good shot at flipping the junior college defender.
Oregon also got a visit this weekend from a standout 2016 talent in ESPN Junior 300 athlete Taylor Rapp, who already holds offers from Arizona State, Boise State, Northwestern, Oregon, Washington and Washington State.
Enjoying myself out here at Oregon 🐥 pic.twitter.com/xCfqwQLfpn
— Taylor Rapp (@trapp07) January 31, 2015
USC's junior day
USC held its first junior day for 2016 recruits on Saturday, and many of the top prospects in the West region were in attendance. News and photos seemingly came from every recruit in attendance. All told, at least five prospects received offers from USC, including linebackers Curtis Robinson and Krys Barnes, defensive backs Jordan Parker and Shurrod Thompson and wide receiver N'Keal Harry.
Gardena (Calif.) Serra was well represented, with Oluwole Betiku, Brandon Burton, Blake Walls and Khalil Tate in this photo. Betiku, Burton, Tate and fellow 2016 Cavalier C.J. Pollard already held USC offers before the visit.
Serra Cavaliers at USC Junior Day. Serra to USC Pipeline reaching double digits. Wole, Burton, Walls, Tate. SFG pic.twitter.com/QOOxxilRVO
— Serrahighfootball (@Serrahighsfg) January 31, 2015
Burton is the nation's No. 76 overall 2016 prospect and part of what is going to be an absolutely loaded class of wide receivers in California.
❤️💛✌️ #FightOn pic.twitter.com/KgIFPEusTm
— ⚡️Brandon Burton⚡️ (@BraandonD1) February 1, 2015
ESPN Junior 300 defensive backs Treyjohn Butler and D.J. Morgan were also in attendance, with both waiting on offers from USC.
................ pic.twitter.com/w6ZJbAzrVX
— T........... (@_treyjohnb) February 1, 2015
USC Junior Day‼️‼️ #FightOn ✌️ pic.twitter.com/Y9ZgnBKdof
— D.J. Morgan (@dj_morgan27) January 31, 2015
The state of Arizona was also well represented, with ESPN Junior 300 cornerback Byron Murphy joining Harry, along with former Arizona and current San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills quarterback Dakota Miller.
USC today! @NkealHarry15 @dkiiidakota pic.twitter.com/KPwR3YSXAN
— Bmurph (@byronmurpy) February 1, 2015