Tom Lemming looks at UCLA’s status in the recruiting world

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It can get nasty on the recruiting trail, but things are starting to look good for UCLA, according to CBS College Sports Network recruiting expert Tom Lemming.

Our last in a three-part interview looks at what draws rising starts to Westwood, and why Bruin fans should be happy with Rick Neuheisel’s first recruiting class.

Fabulous Forum: What’s most attractive or unattractive to recruits about UCLA right now?

Tom Lemming: I don’t know if there’s anything that turns them off. Neuheisel seems kind of like a recruiting version of Pete Carroll. He’s got a later start, so I think give him a couple years and he’s going to be able to compete against USC. They’ve got a beautiful campus, good facilities, a burgeoning program, and they play in the Rose Bowl. I think they’ve got a lot of positives and very few negatives. Neuheisel himself is one of the better recruiters too. People just kind of forgot since he had been removed from Washington for a few years. Once he gets established with four full classes, I think they’ll be able to compete against almost everybody. They probably won’t have as much talent as USC, but they’ll be able to compete against them.

FF: How much of a recruiting plus is a guy like Norm Chow, who helped land Richard Brehaut [the second-rated quarterback in California], and on the flip side, what does it mean to lose DeWayne Walker?

TL: Losing their defense coordinator really hurts because he was a good recruiter, but keeping Norm Chow really helps. Chow’s a legend in college football as a quarterback developer at BYU, USC and now UCLA. I think Brehaut is a good player to mention because they don’t have any depth at all at quarterback. I think he could come in and play right away if he’s ready. They’re hoping he is, because quarterback is a major thorn in their side right now. They need someone to come up and take charge, and I think Chow’s hoping it’s Brehaut.

FF: How much of a consideration is the ability to start quickly? Not just for Brehaut, but for any recruit?

TL: It’s huge. Kids always want to start as soon as possible. UCLA’s very inviting right now because of that. They go to UCLA, they have a much better shot at starting there then they would at USC right now.

FF: UCLA nabbed Morrell Presley (the nation’s top-rated tight end) after he committed to USC. What other recruiting coups did the Bruins pull off?

TL: Getting the DB away from Notre Dame [Marlon Pollard] who had been committed to them previously. [Add in Presley] and their quarterback, they’ve done a good job. It’s not a Top Ten class, but it’s a very good class considering their record.

FF: What does it take to for a coach to get a commit to change his mind?

TL: This year it didn’t take much at all! It seems like this is the year of the decommitment. Just ask USC. This seems to be a trend. Michigan has lost eight or nine guys through decommitment. It doesn’t take a whole lot now. The college coaches do need an early signing period just to protect themselves from the other coaches. Coaches can’t control themselves. The other coaches pound away at these commits. There’s no respect for each other.

You can catch Tom Lemming today at 8 a.m. (Pacific Time) when he hosts a live, five-hour broadcast on CBS College Sports. You’ll find more of his analysis on MaxPreps.com. Earlier this morning, we shared Tom’s takes on USC and football recruiting in general.

-- Adam Rose