SoCal OL makes decison

Offensive lineman Jeff Baca (6-3, 270, 5.0) from Mission Viejo, Calif., plays for a team that consistently sends its best players to the D-I level. There are several linemen on both sides of the ball that are already playing on D-I rosters. Baca, who has nine offers on the table, made his decision on college he will attend.

Baca's nine offers are from Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Boise State, Utah, San Diego State, Iowa State and just yesterday after a stout camp performance, UCLA.

USC, Notre Dame and Ohio State were also showing interest in the talented lineman from Orange County.

"UCLA offered me yesterday and I committed," Baca said. "My whole life I've been a Bruin.

"My father passed away four years ago and he never saw me play a down of football because I started playing my freshman year," Baca said. "My dad and I have been going to at least two Bruin games a year at the Rose Bowl since I was six.

"We had some good times there and good barbeque," Baca said. "When UCLA offered me it was a dream come true.

Baca was outstanding at UCLA camp yesterday and they have been recruiting him a long time. It was more of a matter of when they were going to offer him, not if.

Baca showed new offensive line coach Bob Connelly exactly what he wanted to see, an athletic big man.

"I played two positions at yesterday's camp," Baca said. "My normal left tackle spot and then I played some left guard.

"At first it was a little uncomfortable playing guard, but once I got used to it everything was fine."

"I like (offensive line) Coach Connelly a lot," Baca said. "He's basically what I was looking for in an offensive line coach.

Even after Baca's good showing he left the camp without an offer in hand. But there was reason for optimism.

"Coach Karl Dorrell told me to call him when I got home," Baca said. "I called around 5:00 PM and Coach Dorrell said he has some good news for me and that put a smile on my face.

The Bruins get a player in Baca who earned all-league and all-state (HM) as a junior. He also gets the job done in the weight room. His current bench is 355, squat 490 and he cleans an outstanding 315.

Baca has also recorded, an outstanding for a guy his size, 32-inch vertical. That's one athletic big man.

Bruins get a player of need and with tremendous upside in Baca.