Inside the numbers: Bama-Harris, UCLA's fast start, Cali wide open

The West is loaded with top prospects once again in the 2017 recruiting cycle and a bunch of interesting storylines have already emerged. Here are some of the early trends in the West and how they could play out leading up to Signing Day.

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Five-star running back Najee Harris has been committed to Alabama for months and recently visited the Crimson Tide again as nearly every program in the country pursues the second-best recruit in the class and one of the best-looking running backs in recent memory.

The Antioch, Calif., standout has dominated events this spring, including the Rivals Camp Series Presented by Under Armour stop in Southern California and the Pylon 7v7 in Las Vegas, among others, and during that time he’s also taken some other important unofficial visits.

There is some that think Harris could consider staying closer to home and it was no shock that he visited USC and UCLA during his trip to Los Angeles recently. Cal has also been mentioned as a major player, as have others.

Harris has the size, speed, ability and intangibles to be a special running back wherever he plays. His commitment to Alabama still stands but others are certainly not giving up.

UCLA is off to a big-time start in recruiting this cycle with six commits, many of whom could see a bump in the rankings after spring evaluations.

The Bruins have loaded up especially on defense with four-star defensive ends Hunter Echols, who has had an impressive spring, and Javaris Steward and at linebacker with three-star Rahyme Johnson, who is super athletic and covers like a defensive back. Three-star DB Rhedi Short had a fantastic showing at the Rivals Camp Series Presented by Under Armour.

UCLA has also bolstered its offensive line with four-star Kanan Ray, who can play inside or outside, and stout offensive guard Will Farrar, who looked good at the Dallas Rivals Camp.

Coach Jim Mora and his staff are known as aggressive recruiters and the early attention has been paying off this recruiting cycle in Westwood.

Want a good sign that National Signing Day is still very far off? Only 16 of the top 75 players in the state of California are committed and many – at this point – are considered soft pledges.

Harris leads the way followed by all-purpose back Stephen Carr and cornerback Thomas Graham, both committed to USC and both considered soft commits. Stanford has two tight end commits in Colby Parkinson and Tucker Fisk, and both look like they’re completely firm with the Cardinal.

The point being that there is a long way to go until next February and there will be many changes along the way. Three of the top four players in the state have not picked a school. Only six of the top 20 are committed. It should be an interesting ride.

The top prospects in Nevada don’t seem to want to wait.

The state’s No. 1 player, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman quarterback Tate Martell, is committed to Texas A&M (although he is visiting Ohio State this week), Gorman four-star DT Haskell Garrett made an early pledge to the Buckeyes and four-star DB Damuzhea Bolden has picked USC.

That leaves Gorman DB Alex Perry and Las Vegas Arbor View DT Greg Rogers as the only two prospects in the top five who haven’t committed. Perry, who looked good at Rivals Camp Series: Dallas, has Oklahoma, Michigan and many others involved. Rogers, a standout at Rivals Camp Series: Los Angeles, has UCLA and USC among his favorites along with Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska and others.

If anyone not from California wants to win the Under Armour iLLSPEED competition in Baltimore next month, they’re going to have to step it up.

All four of the finalists from the iLLSPEED portion of Rivals Camp Series stop in Southern California had better times than the winners at the other two events in Dallas and Orlando, and the top two finishers blew away the competition.

Four-star athlete Jaylon Redd has the best time overall finishing in 13.75 seconds and four-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey finished right behind him at 13.8 seconds. That’s pretty quick, but they’ll have to back it up next month when the top 16 finishers compete again in Baltimore.