Is UCLA commit still solid

We had heard over a week ago that UCLA commit Akeem Ayers was planning to take an official visit to Cal this past weekend. The visit fell through but the talented defensive player will be checking out a Big 12 school this weekend.

Ayers, 6-3, 215 pounds from Los Angeles (Calif.) Verbum Dei is one of the elite defensive players in the West region this year. He's coming off back to back 20 + sack seasons and is being recruited as both a linebacker and defensive end.

Ayers committed late in the summer to UCLA and although he said his commitment to the Bruins is still solid, he will take a few official visits starting this weekend.

"I'm going out to Colorado for an official visit this weekend (Nov 10)," Ayers said. "I had a trip set for Cal last weekend but I had cancel it because we had a game on Saturday. I'm going to re-schedule it though and may take the visit when Cal plays Stanford later this season.

"Those are really the main two schools I'm talking with but USC is also recruiting me pretty hard right now. They actually like me as a tight end, they're the only school that has talked to me about playing on offense. Coach Norton was recruiting me earlier in the year but now I'm hearing from Brennan Carroll, the tight end coach."

So how solid is the commitment to UCLA?

"I'm still solid, I still plan to sign with UCLA," Ayers said. "I just want to look at these other schools so I have something to compare UCLA to. When I committed there, I really didn't look that hard at any other school so I just want to take these trips to make sure I made the right decision.

"Of course I'm going to take an official visit UCLA too and I talk to Coach Walker all the time. I really like the defense and feel they have made a lot of strides this year. UCLA likes me as an outside linebacker and I'm looking forward to playing that position in college."

Ayers suffered a hand injury early in the season and has only played in four game this year.

"I'm feeling good now and my hand is almost all the way back," Ayers said. "We have a big game this weekend and if we win, we're in CIF. Right now, that's where my focus is and I'm looking forward to making some big plays on both sides of the ball. Then I'll leave for Boulder on Saturday and we'll see how things go."