UCLA gives Jones something to think about

Lawndale (Calif.) Leuzinger defensive lineman Otis Jones has been pretty consistent with us this year when we talked to him about UCLA being somewhat of a dream school for him. While the Bruins showed marginal interest, Arizona State jumped in the picture, offered the tackle on his official visit and he committed.

Fast forward a few weeks later and Jones recently picked up the offer he had been hoping for most of the last year.

"I got a call from Coach Howard at UCLA on Saturday," Jones said. "He told me he watched my film and they really liked me. He said they were offering me a scholarship and he wanted me to be a Bruin.

"To be honest, I didn't know what to think. I had a lot of different emotions going through my head. On one hand, I was really excited because I've always liked UCLA but on the other hand, I was thinking, 'what took so long,' and why did they wait until after I committed to ASU before offering.

"Coach Howard said while the coaching change was going on, they couldn't offer any new players and that was why there was the delay. He also said they got my film late but he really liked my explosive first step and strength and believes I can play there.

"He asked me what I wanted to do and I just said I didn't know. I mean, I don't know. I'm still committed to ASU for sure but I have to at least give UCLA a look. Coach Howard didn't talk to me about taking a visit or anything, he just said he would be calling me this week, Monday or Tuesday and discuss what I wanted to do some more."

There has also been talk that for Jones to get in to UCLA, he would have to raise his SAT score.

"Yeah, I didn't get that," Jones said. "Right now, I'm fine but they want me to have a higher score. UCLA needs to lower their standards a little in my opinion. They lose a lot of players every year because they can't get in there with the same scores that get you in to USC or ASU or anywhere else in the Pac 10.

"I know UCLA wants to be a big time academic school and all but I really think if they lowered their standards a little, they would have better players and be more competitive on the field. I really don't want to take the SAT again. I donn't see why I should have to but I'll talk to Coach Howard and see what they say and at the very least, it's good to have UCLA as an option."