RECRUITING: Liberty’s Tai sets sights on UCLA

After visiting several college campuses, wading through more than a dozen scholarship offers and even receiving Facebook messages from Arkansas fans, Sam Tai had reason to take a deep breath.

The recruiting frenzy is over.

Tai, a senior defensive end at Liberty High School, announced in an on-campus ceremony Wednesday he has given an oral commitment to play football at UCLA.

“It’s a relief,” Tai said. “It’s been very stressful, but it feels good to get my decision out and exciting to be able to share it with my family.”

National signing day in college football isn’t until Feb. 2, but Tai had to make his decision sooner because he will graduate from high school early.

Tai plans to enroll at UCLA in January and compete in spring practices.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 245-pound Tai said Arkansas was his runner-up. He also had offers from Colorado, Fresno State, Idaho, UNLV and UNR, among others.

Tai, who hopes to major in political science, said academics and location were his top two reasons for picking the Bruins. He visited UCLA last weekend and Arkansas the week before.

“It was very close,” Tai said of deciding between UCLA and Arkansas. “My official visit to (Arkansas) was amazing. When I told the coaches, it was hard for them to take it because we’d built up a relationship.”

Tai sat out the first four games this season for Liberty (9-1) with a hairline fracture in his left ankle, but he’s played well in the six games since returning. He’ll lead the Patriots into their Sunrise Region semifinal against visiting Canyon Springs (7-3) on Thursday.

“(Tai) has brought a lot of national attention to Liberty with scouts and people,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said. “I hope it helps out some of the other kids who normally wouldn’t get a look.”

Tai is the second local defensive end to commit to UCLA in the past three years. He’ll join former Silverado standout Keenan Graham, who has started six games as a redshirt freshman for the Bruins this season.