UCLA lands first commit
Cornerback Anthony Dye (5-11, 180, 4.48) from Corona (Calif.) Santiago is one of the West Coast's top cornerback prospects. He recently showed up at the Rivals.com junior day held in Anaheim. He and his Dad took an unofficial visit to UCLA this past weekend and it went better than expected.
"It was like we have been part of the UCLA family all along," Mark Dye, Anthony's Dad said. "Usually there is apprehension on the part of the parents and the coaching staff at these types of meetings, but there was none on either side at this meeting.
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"We had a sit down with Coach Karl Dorrell and Coach DeWayne Walker," Mark Dye said. "They expressed that they had met with the entire staff and the staff agreed unanimously to offer Anthony a scholarship.
"We told them that we would probably commit but we couldn't until we talked over with my wife and other two sons," Dye's Dad said. "After we had a family meeting on Sunday, we called UCLA on Monday and committed.
"We as a family feel great," Mark Dye said. "We feel it is the perfect fit. We couldn't have drawn it up any better.
"The compatibility with the coaching staff couldn't be better," Mark Dye said. "When I played college ball at San Jose State, my defensive back coach was Herman Edwards and Coach Walker reminds me of him.
The Bruins land your typical lockdown cover corner who picked off three passes in the first two and then the opposition wised up and pretty much quit throwing to his man after the first two games.
When Corona (Calif.) Centennial high school was scouting Santiago for their game, they circled Dye's number on the scouting report and their coach told the quarterback to not to throw in his area. That is what is called respect.
Dye ended racking up 18 tackles against Ryan Bass and Centennial.
Obviously Dye is a physical corner and there is a good reason for his aggressive nature and all-around athleticism. He's also an outstanding hockey player who has played against the Czech and the Russian junior teams in world tournaments.
Other schools in the mix were BYU, Washington State, Arizona State, Cal and Michigan.
"Tony is done with recruiting," the elder Dye said. "We're happy with UCLA.
"We told Tony that it is his time and that the decision on what college he will attend will change his life," Dye said. "We told him that his verbal commitment is his word and his word was going to go with him everywhere.
"We told Tony that once he decides on a school that he has to man up and stick to his word," Dye said. "Tony won't be one of those who waver back and forth.