SoCal tight end up to five offers

One of the fastest rising tight ends on the west coast is Joseph Fauria (6-7, 247, 4.75) from Encino (Calif.) Crespi. His stock has soared ever since he attended the Rivals.com junior day last February. Since that Saturday last month, Fauria has received four offers rising his total to five.

Fauria's fifth offer came just yesterday (March 20th) from Nebraska.

"I've always loved Nebraska's offense and the way they use their tight end," Fauria said. "Nebraska was my uncle's, Christian Fauria, main rival when he played for CU and at first he laughed about since Colorado offered the day before. He said Nebraska is a great school, but thought that is was funny how they followed Colorado.

"I was really surprised by my offer from Colorado," Fauria said. "I hadn't received any letters from them, but they saw my tape on Monday and offered right after they watched it.

"UCLA was my third offer," Fauria said. "I was there for their meet and greet a couple of weeks ago.

"It was good, I went with my mother and we had lunch with my recruiter (offensive line) Coach Bob Connelly and my position coach John Wristen," Fauria said. "They went over the academics and how I fit the UCLA recruit profile.

"After we ate lunch they offered me," Fauria said. "I heard everyone who was there committed and I was tempted to but I wanted to keep my options open.

"Then lo and behold I received offers from Colorado and Nebraska.

"Before the meet and greet I went to UCLA's Junior Day and met D.J. McCarthy and he liked me," Fauria said. "He left UCLA to join the staff at LSU and he showed my tape to the staff and LSU offered me the next morning.

"Coach McCarthy texted me saying he wished me a good Tiger morning and said that LSU was offering me a scholarship," Fauria said. "He told me that the Tiger staff likes how I run my routes and hands.

"I like LSU because they are a top football school that is always in the hunt for the SEC and the National Championship.

"Ole Miss was my first offer," Fauria said. "They offered me on December 19th and it was a nice early Christmas present. Ole Miss hadn't even sent me any letters, they just offered me right off the bat.

"I would like to make an early decision but more than likely I will take some official visits before I decide."

When Fauria showed up to the Rivals.com Junior Day he sure passed the look test.

Fauria earned first-team all-league in both football and basketball as a junior.

From his tight end position, Fauria caught 22 passes for 329 yards and four touchdowns.

Fauria knows that to be a good tight end it is more than catching passes. He is an outstanding blocker as well.

"I love to block," Fauria said. "I take a lot of pride in blocking. My coach Jeremiah Ross was an offensive lineman so he has helped me a great deal as a blocker.

The scouting report on Fauria is he's a clutch receiver who will make the catch that moves the chains. He runs excellent routes and can find the open spot.

An outstanding all-around athlete, Fauria could go both ways this coming fall adding defensive end to his tight end duties.