Four-star receiver makes switch

Brandin Cooks was at Oregon State a couple weekends ago when the Beavers dismantled USC and that game left a big impression on the four-star wide receiver from Stockton (Calif.) Lincoln.

So big that Cooks decided to switch his commitment from UCLA to Oregon State mainly because of how he feels he could contribute to the Beavers' offense.

"The education part held me back a lot from switching because I know UCLA has an unbelievable education but with the football program I felt I see myself better in Oregon State's offense," Cooks said.

"I went down there and visited and I was worried that the town was going to be too small but when I got there I loved it. It's a family-oriented environment and the fans are crazy about their football."

Cooks is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound prospect who emerged on the national scene at the Palo Alto NIKE Camp this spring. Rivals.com rates him No. 22 at wide receiver, No. 248 overall and No. 41 in the California state rankings.

The way Oregon State utilizes wide receiver James Rodgers - who is of similar size and speed - appeals to Cooks and that was a major reason why he switched schools. The coaching staff in Corvallis also made a big impression on him.

"James Rodgers had success at Oregon State and we are the same player-type," Cooks said. "He broke some school records and was really successful and they could see me in that area. With my abilities I can have a lot of success there. That could be the deciding factor for me.

"There are no questions about the coaching staff. They're a great coaching staff and when I sat down with coach (Mike) Riley to go over things I have a vibe with coach Riley, I can talk with him about anything. Coach (Jay) Locey is a great receivers coach and a great guy. Everything is very family-like there."

Win-loss totals didn't play much into Cooks' decision since both Oregon State and UCLA have losing records. Style of play was a major factor since the Beavers' leading receiver (Markus Wheaton, 45) has 20 more catches than UCLA's top receiver, Taylor Embree.

"The offense hasn't been clicking much from the receivers' standpoint," Cooks said of UCLA.

"I didn't really look at the wins and losses. That wasn't a big deal. It was more of the offensive scheme that I really liked. I think of it as four years of training for the NFL. That's where I ultimately want to be."