UCLA commit picks up USC offer

Torian White has been committed to UCLA since the early summer and he remains in the Bruins' recruiting class but cross-town rival USC offered this week and White's father, Joe, said the Trojans will have to be considered.

White, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle from Lakewood, Calif., was limited in his junior season with a sports hernia but now that some senior highlight film is out on him more schools are getting involved.

Oregon State is showing more interest and Joe White said he had lengthy conversations with numerous USC coaches recently and an offer is now on the table.

"They're going to come at him pretty hard," Joe White said of the Trojans' staff. "I spoke with them on the phone for about two hours and all of the coaches from the o-line coach to Lane Kiffin even to Monte (Kiffin) and they actually expressed interest on him in the summer.

"When he did the SC camp they didn't make anyone an offer because it was the same week the sanctions came out. Lane told me that he wanted to see some game tape on him and that was the reason they were a little bit apprehensive. Now they have the game tape and they pretty much liked what they were evaluating."

To White's credit, he reportedly called UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel Sunday night to alert him about the USC offer and to tell him that he's still committed to the Bruins.

In all fairness, though, White will take a strong look at the Trojans - and maybe other programs that offer - since his pledge is not binding until National Signing Day in February.

"My son is really, really mild-mannered and I know there's a lot of hoopla because it's getting ready to get crazy," White said. "He's one of those guys where once he makes a commitment he stands to it but we all know the world is not perfect. I want him to have the option to evaluate it.

"No disrespect to UCLA but just to look what their offers are and what they're offering at that program. He even called Neuheisel (Sunday) night and told him, 'Hey, I'm still a Bruin,' and it makes the decision a little more gratifying if you go and look at Oregon, you look at SC, you look at Washington and you pick UCLA."

Lakewood is 4-0 this season and has outscored its opponents, 144-21, so far this season. The Lancers visit Compton this weekend and then face Long Beach Poly in two weeks.