Recruiting Notes: Ground Zero 7-on-7 Media Day

MORE: Who shined, who disappointed during all-star week?

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. - The Ground Zero 7-on-7 Media Day was held late Saturday and many top 2019 and 2020 prospects were in attendance. Here are some of the latest recruiting nuggets from the event.

Jeremiah Criddell is one of the top West Coast cornerbacks for the 2019 class and in recent days he landed his newest offer from Oklahoma.

It’s caught his attention.

“Looking at the Georgia game and seeing how they played, looking at their performance and their DB performance, they’re coached up well,” Criddell said. “It’s a really big school.”

The four-star who recently transferred from Rancho Cucamonga to Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei is planning a return trip to Washington soon. He said the Huskies along with Notre Dame, Alabama, TCU and USC stand out early in his recruitment.

As for looking at official visits, Criddell said Alabama, Notre Dame and Oklahoma should receive trips.

Washington is the frontrunner for 2019 four-star running back Sean Dollars and it all has to do with coach Chris Petersen.

“Washington is standing out a lot because of coach Petersen,” Dollars said. “He really texts me every day to make sure I’m good and to make sure I’m taking care of my school.”

The speedy running back who recently transferred from Rancho Cucamonga to Santa Ana Mater Dei as well said he loved how the Huskies utilized Myles Gaskin in the backfield and he could be used in a similar way.

Washington has an edge but Florida State and USC are right there as well. Dollars has an excellent relationship with Donte Pimpleton from his time on Oregon’s staff. USC is also a major player since Dollars is close with RB Stephen Carr and it’s the hometown powerhouse.

One of the top linebackers in the 2020 class is Justin Flowe and the Upland, Calif., standout is looking at some possible visits coming up.

Flowe said he wants to get out to Oklahoma since the Sooners have been so active in his recruitment but does not have a date for Norman yet.

“They’ve been recruiting me hard and coming to the school a lot,” Flowe said. “A lot of schools are recruiting hard.”

UCLA was one of those schools under the former staff but Flowe said he hasn’t heard much from the Bruins since coach Chip Kelly took over. Another school the 2020 standout would like to visit is Ohio State. Florida State is showing the most new interest.

Darion Green-Warren already has a bunch of offers. One he’s looking for is Florida State since it’s been a top school of his for a while.

““I love (coach Willie) Taggart,” Green-Warren said. “No matter what, that will always be a top school for me. .. That would be huge for me. Growing up, I always watched Florida State so that would be a blessing.”

No offer from the Seminoles yet but Florida State could get much more interested soon. It could be really important since Green-Warren called recent FSU signee Jaiden Woodbey, also from California, a “role model.”

Originally from Edmond, Okla., Green-Warren said Oklahoma, Ole Miss and USC stand out in his recruitment as well. The Sooners will always be a top team especially since the 2020 prospect from Santa Ana Mater Dei still has family in the area. USC has not offered yet but should be near the top of his list if it does.

Elias Ricks is a 2020 prospect but he shined at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei in his sophomore season and has already landed a bunch of offers. His latest is from Ole Miss and while he’s still researching the program, there’s one thing he knows for sure.

“Being in the SEC is a big thing for me,” Ricks said.

Cal is also one of the newer offers for Ricks, who said the Golden Bears will get serious consideration because he’s developed a great relationship with defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander.

New interest is coming in from USC, LSU, Stanford, Washington, Houston and others. The Trojans are definitely the dream team.

“It’s my mom’s alma mater and I always grew up watching USC football,” Ricks said. “(An offer) would have a huge impact.”

Jayden Daniels threw for 5,139 yards with 62 touchdowns and five interceptions and he also rushed for 1,292 yards and 15 scores in his junior season. Those numbers will catch the attention of many college coaches and Daniels has been receiving lots of offers recently.

Iowa State, Syracuse and Arizona State are the three latest. He was asked about new Sun Devils coach Herm Edwards.

“I heard a lot about him,” Daniels said. “My dad really wants to talk to him and he’s been telling me about him. Other than that, not really. I’ve been talking to ASU a little bit and I’m looking forward to building a relationship.”

New interest is coming in from Utah, Cal and Penn State so far.