FONTANA, Calif. – The Los Angeles Pylon 7v7 was held Saturday in the Inland Empire and there were a bunch of top prospects in attendance. Here are the latest recruiting news and notes from the event.



USC is going to get a run for its money in the recruitment of four-star all-purpose back Stephen Carr, who just landed his newest offer from Michigan this week.

It’s a big one for the Fontana (Calif.) Summit prospect who said he’s still a soft commit but wants to look at other programs this early in his recruitment.

“I honestly didn’t see it coming but I’m happy to have Michigan on my roster,” Carr said. “Michigan is a great school, a great program. It’s Michigan, man. Who wouldn’t want a Michigan offer?”

Carr could also take a more serious look at Notre Dame and then there’s UCLA. If he decides to stay closer to home and USC isn’t the right fit then there’s a good chance the Bruins could play a huge role as things move through the spring and summer.

After Notre Dame offered three-star cornerback Elijah Gates this week, the Irish have moved way up in his recruitment.

It’s too early to call them the clear-cut favorite because UCLA and Nebraska also offered this week and he especially likes the Bruins a lot but Notre Dame definitely has the Buena Park, Calif., recruit’s attention.

“It was a surprise,” Gates said of the ND offer. “I didn’t really think they were going to reach out to me like that. They like me as an athlete.

“I talked to coach (Mike) Denbrock and he was a great guy telling me how I could help the program and what he could do for me as a person, not just as a player. I loved how he was talking and I’m going to take a visit up there.”

A strong performer at the Pylon 7v7, Gates said he’s also hoping to hear from Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

Three-star defensive back Joshua Talbott is especially high on Texas A&M early – and he could have Long Beach (Calif.) Poly five-star teammate Jack Jones to thank.

The Aggies were one of Jones’ favorites all the way to National Signing Day and so Talbott has talked with the Texas A&M coaches and gotten a good sense from Jones of what it’s like in College Station.

It certainly helps that the Aggies have already offered Talbott so they stand out at this point.

“The competition level, I like the SEC but I’m open to all schools,” Talbott said.

Arizona, Arizona State and Boise State are showing new interest in the three-star from Long Beach Poly as well.

UCLA has emerged as the frontrunner for three-star athlete Michael Onyemaobi and it could definitely be big because the Temecula (Calif.) Chaparral had a very impressive showing at the Pylon event.

The two-way standout is super explosive, physical and can be a special player either at defensive back or wide receiver. If he continues these types of performances this offseason there’s no doubt he could continue to climb up the rankings.

And if he continues to like the Bruins so much they could be getting a top-notch prospect. Cal, Washington State, Arizona State and others are definitely involved but UCLA seems to stand out to his whole family.

“My mom loves UCLA a lot,” Onyemaobi said. “Growing up, she always talked about me and my sister going there.”

The Temecula Chaparral standout said he wants to make his commitment in the summer before his senior season.

Nebraska and Oregon are showing serious interest in three-star speedster Jamire Calvin and the Los Angeles Cathedral standout thinks more offers could be coming.

The Ducks have especially been involved as Calvin said he talks to Oregon coaches “almost every day” and he regularly is in communication with Nebraska as well. He said an offer from Oregon would be “huge” in his recruitment.

A recent junior day visit to Cal went well and the Golden Bears are definitely in the mix as well. It’s still so early in his recruitment and things could pick up soon. A visit to USC is expected.

Mission Viejo, Calif., 2018 prospect Olaijah Griffin has landed early offers from UCLA and Oregon and he said his parents (his father is rapper Warren G) would prefer he stay closer to home.

Whether that happens or not is yet to be determined but that could give the Bruins a leg up early in his recruitment.

“I’ve been to all their football camps and I love it there,” Griffin said. “It’s one of my top colleges.”

Nebraska is getting involved early as well.