Three-star impressed by UCLA visit
Paul Perkins was one of the many top prospects who attended UCLA's recruiting meet-and-greet with new coach Jim Mora on Saturday and the Chandler, Ariz., athlete came away impressed by what was said during the event.
The message Perkins heard from Mora was refreshing and the three-star said he's excited about the future in Westwood.
Advertisement
"He was saying that he wants tough kids that are willing to work hard and become the best," Perkins said. "I really liked that."
Perkins, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound three-star athlete, committed to the Bruins on Dec. 4 when they were still without a coach.
Soon after his pledge, Perkins said he was confident things would work out and it appears to him that Mora was the right pick.
Saturday's recruiting meeting was a big selling point to Perkins, who rushed for 1,297 yards and 20 touchdowns in his senior season.
Air Force, Colorado, Fresno State, New Mexico, Northwestern and Wyoming had also offered Perkins but once UCLA offered him it seemed he was destined to sign with the Bruins.
His former teammate, Brett Hundley, is a freshman quarterback at UCLA and that was helpful in Perkins' recruitment as well.
Meeting Mora, who attended the Concord (Calif.) De La Salle-Westlake championship game on Saturday night - and hearing what he and the rest of the coaching staff had to say about their vision for the future also helped things.
"I really like coach Mora," Perkins said. "He seems like he is an intense coach and he is a players' coach. I am looking forward to working with him."
Rivals.com rates Perkins as the No. 54 athlete in the 2012 class. Chandler finished 8-4 this season.