RECRUITING: Silverado defensive end puts UCLA commitment on hold, considers Utah
After originally making an oral commitment to UCLA in November, Silverado senior defensive end Keenan Graham said Thursday he might not be sure of his college choice until the Feb. 4 signing day.
Graham recently made an official visit to Utah and now is considering the Utes along with UCLA.
“I was impressed with it,” Graham said of his visit to Utah. “It’s between Utah and UCLA. We still really like UCLA.”
Graham has exhausted his five official visits with trips to Nebraska, Wisconsin, Colorado, UCLA and Utah.
“It’s been a great process,” Graham said. “I’ll definitely be relieved when I sign the papers.”
He originally committed to UCLA before visiting the campus but since has decided to reexamine his choice.
Utah wrapped up a 13-0 season with a win in the Sugar Bowl and finished No. 2 in The Associated Press poll this season. UCLA was 4-8, including a 3-6 mark in the Pac-10.
After piling up 14 sacks as a junior, the 6-foot-3-inch, 220-pound Graham was ranked the No. 2 overall prospect in Nevada by Rivals.com.
He had 10 sacks this season, helping the Skyhawks to a 4-5 finish.
WOMACK COMMITS TO NAVY — Bishop Gorman senior offensive lineman Sam Womack orally committed to Navy on Sunday after making an official visit along with Faith Lutheran defensive back David Sperry, who also committed to the Midshipmen.
Womack said he will begin his career at Navy playing for the program’s prep school in Newport, R.I.
“I knew the Naval Academy was a very prestigious school, but the campus just blew me away,” Womack said. “The opportunities there academically and athletically are unmatched.”
Womack, an offensive tackle at Gorman, has been told he likely will play guard for the Midshipmen.
He also had offers from Air Force, Southern Utah and San Diego and had drawn interest from Arizona and Oklahoma State.
“He had a great senior season,” Gorman coach Bob Altshuler said of Womack. “He’ll be quite missed by our coaching staff and school. They’re getting a great kid and the type of kid we want to go into the academy.”
Altshuler added that quarterback/defensive back Joe Huber has been in contact with Air Force, though he has yet to receive an offer.
If Huber commits to a Football Bowl Subdivision school, he would join teammates Womack, defensive end Justin Chaisson (Oklahoma), cornerback Charles Childers (UNLV) and safety John Therrell (UNLV).
NOBRIGA WAITS — Palo Verde senior linebacker Liloa Nobriga still is mulling over offers from Hawaii, Utah, Colorado and Washington, Panthers coach Darwin Rost said.
His decision could come on signing day, Rost said.
Rost said Palo Verde running back Sidney Hodge recently landed a grayshirt offer from UNLV, where he could enroll in January, and has full offers from Weber State and Southern Utah.
Hodge is scheduled to visit Southern Utah along with Las Vegas High quarterback Emir Lopez on Friday.
PROSPECTS AT MOAPA — A pair of seniors from Moapa Valley’s Class 3A state championship team are beginning to field interest.
Running back/defensive back Brad Weiss and defensive tackle Tyler Lomprey have been invited to walk on at UNLV and Southern Utah, Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said.