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Football: WR roundup — Payton to Washington, Dozier to Cal, Treggs now struggling to decide
By Jeff Faraudo
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 1:40 pm in Football, Recruiting.
UPDATED 10:15 p.m.
Wide receiver Jordan Payton announced he will attend Washington, but Cal scored a much-needed recruiting victory when wideout Cedric Dozier spurned advances from Washington State and maintained his commitment to Cal.
The late news is that Adam Gorney of Rivals reports that USC has offered Cal long-time commit Bryce Treggs and says he will seriously consider the Trojans, Bears and UCLA. The senior from St. John Bosco HS in Bellflower plans to make his announcement Wednesday afternoon.
Treggs, whose father Brian starred for the Bears, may simply be confused given the upheaval surrounding Cal recruiting. Who could blame him? It would be surprising if any 18-year-old wasn’t confused by all that is happening.
But Treggs is a five-star Scout.com prospect and Jeff Tedford cannot afford another piece of bad news.
Dozier reopened his recruitment a couple weeks ago and apparently was pursued hard by new WSU coach Mike Leach, whose teams will throw the ball about 50 times a game. At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Dozier is categorized an “athlete” by recruiting sites, including Rivals.com, which gives him a four-star rating.
Dozier told the Tacoma News Tribune he waffled a bit before settling on Cal. “I made up in my mind earlier in the week that I was committing to WSU,” Dozier said. “But I kept praying and it came to me today at lunch.”
While announcing his decision at Lakes High, according to Rivals, Dozier said, “I chose Cal because you can’t go wrong with Cal. It’s a great situation with academics and sports. It’s a win-win situation.
“They’re great people,” Dozier said of Cal. “I want to be well-rounded in my environment.”
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Click here for my story on our website.
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Payton, a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder from Oaks Christian HS in Westlake Village, gave Cal an oral commitment on Jan. 8, the same day Saf Shaq Thompson (Washington) and DT Ellis McCarthy (UCLA) did.
On the heels of Thompson’s announcement Monday night, Payton is the second top recruit to follow ex-Cal receivers coach Eric Kiesau and former recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi from Berkeley to Seattle in the space of 16 hours.
He is rated as the nation’s No. 15 wideout prospect by both Scout.com and Rivals.com.
Also . . .
— Greg Biggins of ESPN is reporting that Kennedy-Richmond wideout and Cal commit Kenny Walker’s father said his son will sign Wednesday with UCLA.
— Biggins also said 6-4, 230-pound tight end Christo Kourtzidis, originally a Florida State commit, still is deciding between the Seminoles and Cal. Kourtzidis, from Lutheran HS in Orange, is rated the No. 8 TE in the country by Rivals.com.
— LB Markuss Eligwe of Stone Mountain, Ga., a Florida State commit who visited Cal last weekend, just tweeted he will pick a school Wednesday. He said earlier he plannned to wait until Monday. Good news for Cal? We’ll see. Eligwe’s 1:30 a.m. EST tweet: “I probably won’t even sleep tonight truthfully I dont think I can.”
— Wideout Jaydon Mickens of Dorsey HS in Los Angeles picked Washington over Oklahoma State. Mickens also had an offer from Cal.
— As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, Rivals.com ranks Cal’s class No. 27, Scout.com places the Bears at No. 42. At their peak a couple weeks ago, the Bears were No. 8, according to Scout. ESPN.com has the Bears at No. 16. All very fluid through Wednesday . . . and perhaps beyond.
— Wideout Kenny Lawler, a 4-star Rivals pick from Upland, still hasn’t made a decision, but reports are he may be leaning to Cal.
— Cornerback Brandon Beaver of Dominguez-Compton, rated No. 12 at his position by Rivals, apparently is favoring UW or Utah over Cal.
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January 31st, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Brandon Beaver also announced his commitment to Washington.
January 31st, 2012 at 1:54 pm
And it only cost them 700k on two pretext coaches!
January 31st, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I updated this per the news. Dozier announces later this afternoon between Cal and Wassu. 4 is the least amount of 4 star or higher rated recruits in one class since 2004.
4 star or higher recruits in each class:
2012: (4) Bryce Treggs, Zach “he better be Andrew Luck” Kline, Michael Barton, Cedric Dozier <<<ANNOUNCES AT 2:30 PM TUESDAY)
2011: (9) Vei Moala, Stefan McClure, Mustafa Jalil, Jason Gibson, Jordan Rigsbee, Todd Barr, Kyle Boehm, Daniel Lasco, Brennan Scarlett.
2010: (5) Keenan Allen, Cecil Whiteside, Dave Wilkerson, Alex Crosthwaite, Gabe King.
2009: (5) Mark Brazinski, Steve Williams, Allan Bridgford, Dasarte Yarnway, Jarred Price.
2008: (5) Spencer Ladner, Trevor Guyton, Tyler Rigsbee, Marvin Jones, Covaughn Deboskie.
2007: (12!!!) Bryan Anger, Sam DeMartinis, DJ Holt, Justin Cheadle, Matt Summers-Gavin, Jahvid Best, Shane Vereen, Mike Calvin, Brock Mansion, Alex Lagemann, Alex Cook, Devin Bishop.
2006: (7) Darian Hagan, Derrick Hill, Tracy Slocum, Kevin Riley, Mike Costanzo, James Montgomery, Mike Gibson.
2005: (12!!!) DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins, Joe Ayoob, Desmond Bishop, Kyle Reed, Anthony Felder, Syd’Quan Thompson, Robert Peele, Jesse Canada, Zach Follett, Mickey Pimentel, Nuu Tafisi.
2004: (4) Phillip Mbakogu, Sekeli Faaeteete, Marshawn Lynch, Nate Longshore.
2003: (5) Brandon Mebane, Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Cross, Ray Tago, Ryan Riddle
2002: (2) Kevin Johnson, Monte Pearson.
January 31st, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Another updated one for our collaborative analysis:
Current recruits:
Offense (including K / P):
Zach Kline – Quarterback
Christian Okafor – Offensive Lineman
Matt Cochran – Offensive Lineman
Freddie Tagaloa – Offensive Lineman
Steven Moore – Offensive Lineman
Jeffrey Coprich – Athlete
Maximo Espitia – Fullback
Chris Harper – Wide Receiver
Cedric Dozier – Wide Receiver <<<ANNOUNCES LATER TODAY
Bryce Treggs – Wide Receiver
Kenny Walker – Wide Receiver <<<ANNOUNCES LATER TODAY
Darius Powe – Wide Receiver
Cole Leininger – K / P
Defense:
Hardy Nickerson – Linebacker
Mike Barton – Linebacker
Damariay Drew – Safety
January 31st, 2012 at 2:03 pm
source for Beaver?
January 31st, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Greg Biggins on Twitter.
January 31st, 2012 at 2:27 pm
This chainsaw up the rear doesn’t hurt so much anymore. Must be all the blood acts as a lubricant.
January 31st, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Something tells me there’s more to the story than just one early and illegal contact with Shaq.
January 31st, 2012 at 2:33 pm
So let me get this straight: we lost all the following commits (or close-to-commits) in the past weeks:
Ellis McCarthy
Shaq Thompson
Arik Armstead
Cedric Dozier
Kenny Walker
Jordan Payton
Zach Hoffpauir
I had no idea how fickle this could be. There is SO much more to your 4 years in college than one guy on a coaching staff…the environment, academics, traditions, etc. Wow.
January 31st, 2012 at 2:41 pm
word is he was turned off by all the negative comments toward Tedford and the direction of the program on this site.
January 31st, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Angry. Tosh is now in Scott Cousins territory, very much hated around here. These were two locals who grew up loyal only to devastate their fellow Bay Area fans by viscous back-stabs.
January 31st, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Dozier to Cal! Go Bears.
January 31st, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Cedric stays at Cal!
January 31st, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Dozier to Cal! Go Bears!
January 31st, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Welcome Cedric! Give shaq a good chop block some time.
January 31st, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Great to get some good news.
January 31st, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Kenny Lawler: serious WR AJ Green-like, high on CAl. Great find and pick if it happens.
January 31st, 2012 at 3:43 pm
About damn time for some good news. Welcome, Cedric.
Now, if only Marcus E commits. I sure hope the South Carolina crew are extolling the virtues of Cal to a fellow southerner.
#calgang!!!
January 31st, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Finally a little good news.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Nice covinared – great way to pick up stupid penalties, something our team has been known for. You wonder why chop blocks get you 15 yards? They are exceedingly dangerous penalties. And you wonder what might be driving recruits away.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Eric, I think it’s safe to say Covinablue was joking.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Glad to see Cedric come to Cal! Great news!
Welcome to the best school in the PAC-12…and the country
January 31st, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Rollon I think it’s safe to say Eric was joking.
Can someone comment after me saying I was joking, thanks.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:43 pm
You know, it just feels good to see this good news after the past few days.
Dozier can be a great player. While it doesn’t make up for the guys we lost, it’s better than losing another one.
And if we hold on to all of our guys including Kenny Walker this will be a very good class. So what if it’s not the alltime best class anymore. Still probably a better class than most of us would have expected given our struggles on the field in recent years.
Good to get good news. Let’s hope tomorrow is a good one because I’m taking the day off and would rather have some celebratory drinks.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Eric: you’re right, I apologize, but down field chop blocks are legal, like the one Allen laid on the Fresno safety to spring Sofele. I will be happy if Cedric merely burns him on a couple td passes, and after each, walks away without taunting as if its business as usual, like Matt Bouza in my day. I don’t blame Shaq. He needs to blaze his own trail. I wish him well so long as its not against Cal.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Juancho: i know when you are joking and appreciate your dry humor.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Thank you, I try.
Can you imagine if Eligwe commits to Cal ? Or for that matter if any other longshot guy like Stefon Diggs does ?
We’d have to get Jason Kidd out here, b/c that would turn these down days around 360 degrees.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:59 pm
these are only down days if you choose to see them as such. we have good group coming back next year. Almost all of these recruits will not make any meaningful contributions until 2013 at the earliest anyway, and some of them will be busts.
January 31st, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Payton may also have been concerned with the competition at his spot. We look to be landing 4-5 good ones this year and have a few coming back.
January 31st, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Sark needs a good chop block sometime- not joking. Tosh is unforgiveable but Sark is scum.
January 31st, 2012 at 5:22 pm
In his last high school game, against cross-town rival Westlake HS and watched by a regional tv audience that covered the entire So Cal region, Peyton was invisible. He didn’t catch a single pass and allowed himself to be upstaged by a sophomore teammate who had over 200 receiving yards. Maybe it’s a sign, and Cal is better off with the WR’s who want to be in the program.
January 31st, 2012 at 5:36 pm
For the “for what it is worth” column, one source, http://calfannotes.jeffwarren.com, provides the following:
“After losing to Baylor 67-56 in the Alamo Bowl, Washington Coach Steve Sarkisian fired his former Defensive Coordinator, Nick Holt, and other members of his staff. Immediately Coach Tedford alerted Sandy Barbour that UW might hire Justin Wilcox (then Defensive Coordinator at Tennessee and Cal’s former Linebackers Coach) as their new DC. Given the friendship that existed between Wilcox and Tosh Lupoi Coach Tedford speculated Wilcox would come after Lupoi. Barbour and Tedford discussed what resources they had to preemptively make a retention offer to Lupoi. Tedford made an upgraded offer to Lupoi on January 2nd; he accepted and assured Tedford that he was no longer interested in UW (the ‘bleed Blue and Gold’ speech). Nevertheless, UW continued to pursue Lupoi, and Cal made a revised offer on January 10th. Once again this was accepted by Lupoi, and Tedford received assurance that the ‘recruitment’ was over. Once again, UW persisted in their efforts. On January 15th Cal made a final revised offer – a significant increase and very competitive with the rest of the Pac 12 and most of the rest of the nation (excluding the SEC), although well short of what UW was offering ($550,000). Tedford learned that Lupoi was going to UW on January 16th.”
The site also reports that allegedly Sandy has filed a grievance with the Pac-12.
Pretty fun read. Not sure if it toungue in cheek on the conspiracy theory.
January 31st, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Treggs reconsidering. Nothing like going after a college that only wants you at the last second because the guys they really want aren’t interested. I guess it is high school after all.
January 31st, 2012 at 7:31 pm
I Kline asks for a transfer, I’m jumping off a cliff.
January 31st, 2012 at 8:18 pm
People need to realize we needed Wrs, OL, and a QB. That is what we are getting.
January 31st, 2012 at 8:49 pm
This whole process is such a disgrace. Everybody has been committed two or three places, flipping at the end. We are training these kids that a commitment means nothing. I’ve never watched this process so closely, but it is sickening. At this point, I don’t care who we get, I’m just glad our school can hold its head high and not be part of the filth that all of the Pete Carrolites pull.
January 31st, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Treggs is reconsidering ? Tell me thats a joke.
January 31st, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Markuss eligwe decided he will announce tomorrow not next monday.
Biggins reports Shittu to Stanford is a done deal. And Kenny Walker to ucla is a done deal.
February 1st, 2012 at 12:34 am
None of this is a done deal until tomorrow. I would laugh my ash off if Shaquille and the others who dropped Cal for UW end up signing with Cal tomorrow to pull a Tosh on Tosh!
February 1st, 2012 at 4:14 am
Covina, I totally misread your offense back there. My apologies to you and Eric. And for wasting almost as much time on pointless posts as some recruits waste on twitter.
I’m hoping for a great day today, maybe a surprise or two. A positive surprise, for once. And I’m busy as heck today, so I won’t have a chance to watch all this stuff unfold live. Probably better for the heart, and the migraines anyway.
Go Bears!
February 1st, 2012 at 5:57 am
Sandy needs to declare war and file a lawsuit against the University of Washington and Tosh Lupoi alleging breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, fraud and tortious interference. I don’t care if we win – but use the litigation process to open up the vault and expose the Whore Lupoi and his masters for what they are for all thw world to see.
February 1st, 2012 at 6:47 am
CalBearister – I’ve been thinking about that but its not my area of law. Is there precedent for this? It will certainly make some news and handled the right way could provide some great attention for Cal. Of course it would take several years to resolve.
February 1st, 2012 at 6:50 am
I do know some great litigators in Texas and several of our supreme court members but this -even if federal- must be started in California. My guess is the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals would be quite amenable to this type of claim.
February 1st, 2012 at 7:13 am
@Big D – wouldn’t that be the most beautiful October surprise.
February 1st, 2012 at 7:45 am
If how we have learned things went down is true, there is no doubt Sandy would have some lawsuits. The issue, IMO, is that all of the contracts likely have some sort of arbitration clauses that keeps disputes within the Pac 12 offices, first, possibly even confidential.
February 1st, 2012 at 7:49 am
Of course, the real problem is that there is no amount of recourse that can bring back a recruiting class lost, and this is looking worse than I ever imagined it would be.
It’s like a run on a bank, each kid that leaves creates enough extra panic for the next to leave.
February 1st, 2012 at 8:09 am
We got harper, powe, okafor and tagaloa already this morning, signed and everything. That’s already a great base to add to kline. We’ll be ok. I really think our defense is solid. With shaq, it’d have been lights out, but I’m liking how things are looking today. Losing treggs would be a major blow, though. The final major blow. But that could be countered by just one big surprise in our favor.
February 1st, 2012 at 8:26 am
@31, totally right. He was not impressive at all and he was totally upstaged by his younger teammate. Unfortunately, that younger teammate is the brother of Chris Owusu, so he may be going to Stanford in the future.
February 1st, 2012 at 9:17 am
Interesting chat last night on BearInsider – some pretty disturbing things about what Tosh allegedly did and has continued to do since leaving – things like not returning Cal-issued Ipad and phone. And further issues of tremendous hostility since the Oregon game in 2010 (whether Tosh unfairly took the blame).
February 1st, 2012 at 10:49 am
@ #49 Eric-
There is a rumor Tosh tried to take Tedford out on his way out. On one hand, you think scumbag. On the other, you think what has really gone on with this program behind the scenes. It’s convenient to label Tosh a dirtbag- it’s easy, simple, and makes things easier to accept.
But Tosh was by all accounts, up until 3 weeks ago, a truly stand up guy. If he IS that, maybe there is some things we don;t know about with Tedford, that would lead Tosh to do what he has done, but to go to lenghts of trying to get Tedford canned.
Again, this is just a rumor- I am not making any accusations, just stating that there are 2 sides to every story- maybe 2 sides- each person’s version, and the truth. Maybe Tosh is somewhat justified in what has transpired. Not saying he is, just saying we don’t know everything.
February 1st, 2012 at 11:03 am
Dan – I heard something very similar. By all accounts, Tosh trul was a Cal guy, but had become increasingly angry towards Tedford. One rumor is the Oregon fiasco. The other is that the University was not caring about the academic performance of some players who were struggling (not taking a position on that – academic integrity does have to count for something) and that Tedford wasn’t going to bat.
And that when Tosh decided to leave, it was like a flip switched.
And I firmly agree that absent a getting both sides (or multiple sides), it doesn’t pay to jump to conclusions. I do think the following:
1. If Tosh is keeping Cal property, he is destroying his own credibility.
2. Tedford and Sandy need to explain why one DL coach had so much sway in recruiting.
3. I would love the hard-hitting analysis (by journalists, anyone?) asking why the incoming class is really a typical Cal class over the last 4-5 years, when we were told it was all about the facilities, the tree-sitters, etc.
4. I would also like the hard-hitting analysis (where are our journalists) asking why Cal has produced more NFL players in the last 5 years than the prior 5, Cal has had more 4-star recruits since 2005 than before, Tedford’s salary has only increased, and yet the results have not nearly been as good, with Oregon, UW, and Furd all becoming significantly better.
February 1st, 2012 at 11:48 am
I see Lupoi as a mediocre DL coach who happened to recruit very well. Cal needs an excellent DL coach who happens to have good recruiting skills. If these players declined Cal because of Lupoi, it does not say much about their character or skills as a team player; particularly the ones who do not play on the DL. I say good riddance. Besides, it is what you do with your recruits after they join the team that really counts.
February 1st, 2012 at 12:52 pm
BlueNGold @ #52 -
I don’t know how you can call Lupoi a mediocre DL coach. He has put one of his DL into the 1st round of the draft the past 2 years. What do you base that on?
February 1st, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Eric – Yes, yes, yes and yes.