Considering the West Coast ties that Yale football coach Tom Williams and the seven coaches he brought in to join Rick Flanders and Duane Brooks on his staff, it figured that the Bulldogs would make a recruiting push out west.
That certainly seems to be the case as five Californians and one player from Utah and Oregon lead the list of the first 12 players to be accepted early at Yale.
Multi-faceted San Diego phenom Deon Randall leads the list as he is a threat passing and running and is also a standout on defense. It figures that Randall will find his way onto the field as an offensive player. Quarterback is a position that has been addressed with Indiana's John Whitelaw and Oregon's Henry Furman being accepted.
There's also a game-breaking receiver (Jackson Ligouri) and tight end (Kyle Wittenauer) and four defensive back prospects (Kyle Aberton, Chris Brady, Max Napolitano and Nick Okano).
I know the first question I will get on any recruiting item is how Yale is doing recruiting offensive linemen. Obinna Nwakeze, John Oppenheimer and Grant Stanley are players capable of playing on the line. Expecting its normal 30-play class, I would expect more offensive line names to emerge when the Yale football Class of 2014 is announced.
Speaking of the offensive line, don't be surprised if a couple of defensive linemen get moved over to the offensive line. Not only do the Bulldogs return all of its defensive linemen but freshmen Chris Dooley and Charles Holmes showed big-play with the JV squad.
Here's a breakdown of the 12 committed players who have been accepted.
Kyle Aberton, DB Cottonwood HS, Holladay, Utah: 63 tackles as a senior, had five interceptions as junior
Chris Brady, DB Don Bosco, Ramsey, N.J.: 5 interceptions including key pick in 28-20 win over Bergen Catholic
Henry Furman, QB Lincoln, Portland, Ore.: All-League QB threw for 41 TDs and more than 3,000 yards last two seasons.
Jackson Ligouri, WR Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood, Calif.: 45 catches and 13 TDs as a senior
Max Napolitano, DB Oaks Christian, Westlake Village, Calif.: Key contributor on team which has won 32 straight games, had interception to clinch 28-25 win over previously undefeated Skyline of Sammamish, Wash.
Obinna Nwakeze, DL/OL Rye (N.Y.) Country Day: Two-way starter after six tackles per game, also an all-american wrestler at Rye
Nick Okano, DB Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood, Calif.: 79 tackles, three interceptions
John Oppenheimer, OL Sacred Heart, Atherton, Calif.: Two-way starting lineman had 50 tackles and four sacks as a senior.
Deon Randall, QB/RB/DB Parker High, San Diego: Passed for 13 tds, 1 pick, ran for 20 tds 11 yards per carry, had five interceptions and more than 90 tackles
Grant Stanley, DE San Joaquin Memorial, Fresno, Calif.: 6-5 230 pounder averaged four tackles with two sacks and an interception as a senior
John Whitelaw, QB Hinsdale (Ill.) Central: Threw for 1,840 yards and 18 touchdowns, ran for 1,299 yards and 17 TDs in nine game.
Kyle Wittenauer, TE/LB St. Christopher's, Richmond, Va.: Big-play threat at tight end had four catches for 118 yards in one game and drew interest from BCS teams as a long snapper
Speaking of Aberton,
there's a nice story on him and a reminder of the quality of individual the program manages to bring in.
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