New USC offer intrigues Wade
Rick Wade did everything possible on Saturday at the Battle at the Beach 7on7 tournament to make it clear UCLA was the major frontrunner in his recruitment.
The Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita Catholic defensive end even confirmed rumors that he was close to a commitment to the Bruins.
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"It's true," Wade said. "It's pretty true.
"I loved everything about it. I clicked with the coaching staff and everything. I just felt at home right away.
"They're in a dead period right now so I'm going to go up as soon as possible, show my mom around and hopefully see where it goes from there."
Wade, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound three-star prospect, talked about getting along well with UCLA coach Jim Mora and assistant Angus McClure. Everything he said was so blatantly clear that the Bruins were going to land his pledge.
"Coach Mora can really mold me into the player I need to become," Wade said. "Coach Angus is really cool. Everything is really unique and different. I'm really close with coach Angus. I just want it out of the way so I can concentrate on the season."
Everything was all set. And then USC offered on Sunday and it seemingly through his recruitment into a tailspin.
Wade said when asked immediately after the USC offer that it could change things but that is mind is pretty much made up.
"It definitely mixes things up but I'm pretty sure I have my mind set on where I want to go and when I say something I mean it so I want to be sure about my commitment," Wade said.
When Wade later talked to USCFootball.com, he seemed much more open to the Trojans and now wants to take his time with his decision as his senior season approaches.
The Santa Margarita standout knows the new USC coaches. He's visited there plenty of times. His dad went there. It seems like the offer definitely is an opening to steal him in the coming weeks - unless his love for UCLA is too much to overcome.
"It changes the game a lot," Wade told USCFootball.com. "We'll see where it goes from here but I still want to be committed before my senior season starts so we'll see."