SoCal DE stock is soaring
Defensive end Devon Moreland (6-3, 225, 4.6) from Los Angeles (Calif.) Salesian is one of the fastest rising prospects on the west coast. He has recently picked up three offers, two of them from the Pac 10. Not bad for a guy who has only played one year of football.
It appears that Moreland received some very exciting news when he attended UCLA's Junior Day on Saturday.
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"Devon told me he received an offer from UCLA on Saturday," Salesian assistant coach Devah Thomas said. "He is really excited about UCLA's offer. He thought it would never happen and that it is like a dream come true.
"Devon said, Coach I am just really excited, UCLA is a team that I watch on TV," Thomas said. "He couldn't believe they would offer him a scholarship.
"Devon loved the facilities and the loved the coaching staff," Thomas said. "He liked how the coaches greeted him and was just excited about the whole situation. He likes the area of Westwood where the school is at.
"Devon thought about committing to UCLA, but he wants to weigh all of his options," Thomas said. "He really wants to sit down and talk to his family and his coaches. We are going to sit down and have dinner to discuss his decision.
"One of my brothers was trying to convince him to go UCLA," Thomas said. "My brother is a UCLA fan and said we hate that school downtown.
Moreland is also boxer and Thomas' brother used to take him to the boxing gym to work out so UCLA may have an ally in his recruitment.
UCLA has joined two other schools with offers.
"San Diego State with Coach Tony White and Arizona Coach Mike Tuiasosopo have both offered," Thomas said. "He thinks the San Diego State offer is cool and you can't count them out because he looking beyond football.
"Devon is looking at academics, safety and things like that. There's a lot that's going to play a part in his decision, not just athletics.
"He's going to play football regardless so his decision will be based on academics, environment and safety. Devon wants to major in criminal justice so it would the school if they are strong in that subject.
"Devon also really likes Arizona," Thomas said. "He likes the fact that Arizona offered him first and that they were first to take a chance on him. He likes that they have sent players to the league and that they play an aggressive defense because Devon is a very aggressive guy.
"Devon was feeling the vibe at Arizona was the first to offer," Thomas said. "I mean he was like why me out of all the defensive ends in the country, Arizona offered me so he feels special about Arizona.
Moreland was League Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-league and all-CIF after accounting for 90 tackles and 21 sacks as junior. Please remember that his junior season was his first playing football. He was boxing before that.
Moreland is definitely a player who is going to see his stock soar this spring.