<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>
The Big Pitch
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>
Allen Bradford
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By
Allen Wallace National Recruiting Editor
Date: Jun 20, 2005
Colton (Calif.) linebacker Allen Bradford (6-0, 222, 4.55) has unlimited options at this stage. He tells Scout.com some thoughts about his top five programs and you get the impression a very tough set of choices looms for the youngster.
</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3>
California linebacker
Allen Bradford (6-0, 222, 4.55) from Colton High School in Colton says he's narrowed his list of schools down to fifteen, with
UCLA,
USC,
Washington, Cal and
Oklahoma his top five. All have offered.
"I also like ten other schools right now along with those schools in my top five," said Bradford. "They'd be Oregon,
Georgia,
Arizona,
Tennessee,
Ole Miss,
Ohio State,
LSU,
Nebraska and
Notre Dame. All of those programs have offered me as well.
"I was at UCLA's campus on Saturday (6/18) for an unofficial visit. I got to meet the coaches and see some of the facilities there. I really like "Doc" (strength and conditioning coach
E.J. Kreis). He's a very inspirational speaker and he's really motivated me to work and train even harder this summer in preparation for the season and being ready for the next level.
"UCLA is a good program. By the time I graduate, they're going to lose about three senior linebackers, so I've got a good chance to compete for a starting spot. That's all I really need to hear from a program.
"USC has got a lot of depth at the linebacker position. Coach
(Todd) McNair (running backs) even told me that a lot of kids don't want to go to USC's program because they've got so much depth at their positions. But he also told me that if you're a good enough athlete and you want to compete for a spot, then the depth issues shouldn't worry you.
"USC has got a great winning tradition and you can really feel the championship vibe there. I also like how the coaches get you to think about your academics and education…I mean there is life after football, and football has got to end sometime," he said.
"Washington didn't do too good last year, but I think they're going to do good with coach
(Tyrone) Willingham there. They're just another one of those program's that is on the rise and I like them right now.
"I don't know too much about Cal's program besides the fact that they're a good team. They recently offered me. Being from Colton, up here in Northern California, a lot of people in my family really like their program. In fact, it's one of my uncles' dream schools," he said.
"I think Oklahoma's program is going to be competing for another national championship next year. And they're one of those programs that's going to be good for years to come," he said. "I won't take in any camps this summer. I know that I'll probably unofficially visit USC next Saturday (7/2), Cal and both Washington and Ole Miss towards the end of July." 2.6 GPA/June 4 first-time SAT
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
