Four-star narrows it down

There are few players who possess the combination of brute power, size, strength and quickness of four-star defensive tackle Ricky Heimuli (6-4, 280, 4.9) from Salt Lake City (Utah) Brighton. Heimuli has 21 offers on the table, but he has narrowed down his college choices to a top 10. Rivals.com caught up with the talented defensive tackle to get the latest on him.

"My summer has been good," Heimuli said. "I have been basically doing football stuff, and nothing new recruiting.

"In no particular order it's Oregon, USC, Oregon State, UCLA, Cal, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Michigan State, Washington and Utah," Heimuli said. "Right now, actually I'm just trying to focus on my season and after the season is when I'll be making some adjustments to that.

Even though Heimuli is considered one of the nation's best defensive tackles, he didn't rest on his laurels as he attended camps at Utah, BYU, the all-Poly camp and the prestigious USC Rising Stars Camp.

"It was fun," Heimuli said about his Rising Star Camp experience. "I had a good time out there. I was able to talk to Coach Pete Carroll and all the coaches over there. That was pretty fun. My parents liked it a lot, too.

What does Heimuli like in some his favorite schools?

"Utah has good coaches and it is pretty close to home so I could still be with family and friends," Heimuli said. "I also grew up knowing the school.

"With Oregon and Oregon State, getting to know the coaches was very good," Heimuli said. "I know a few people who play on both teams and they are trying to help me to get to know those two schools also.

"I really like coach Tosh Lupoi at Cal," Heimuli said. "He is a really good coach. He has been really upfront with everything and how Cal is with the players and how Cal is as a school, too.

"USC and UCLA have good coaches," Heimuli said. "I have also been able to get to know some of the players on the team and they are telling me how great their program's are and I could also see it by watching some of the practices.

"I know Xavier Su'a Filo, who just signed with UCLA and (USC fullback) Stanley Havili grew up with one of my brothers so, I know him pretty well too.

"I like Oklahoma's coaching staff, too," Heimuli said. "They have good facilities and I have heard a lot about their football program from Jason Ah You, his little brother (C.J. Ah You) played for Oklahoma," Heimuli said. "I've heard a lot about Oklahoma from those two.

"Michigan State is different from other schools," Heimuli said. "I wouldn't mind have an experience on the eastern side of the country. Most people are expecting me to go to a school in the west, but I like Michigan State a lot because of the way they work together.

"I probably won't make up mind until later," Heimuli said. "Maybe I won't decide until 2010, actually."

Heimuli is a member of the LDS faith so there is a possibility that he will take his mission.

"Right now it looks like I will start as a freshman and then head off and take my mission, but I'm not sure," Heimuli said. "I'm not positive on how that is going to happen, or what."

Does Heimuli know what schools he's going to take official visits to?

"There are about three schools that I want to visit for sure," Heimuli said. "Oregon, Oregon State and USC. I don't know about my other two so far. That's not a top five, it is just schools that I want to go check out.

Heimuli earned a spot on the Rivals.com Rivals100 for the class of 2010 landing as the nation's No. 87 prospect, regardless of position. He also rated by Rivals.com as the country's No. 6 defensive tackle.

Heimuli also made the Rivals.com Utah Preseason Top 20 team landing as the Beehive Sate's No. 2 prospect at any position.