UCLA football: Carson’s Wade Yandall commits, will enroll early
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Carson High’s Wade Yandall said he has committed to UCLA and will enroll in March to participate in spring practice. Yandall, who is 6 feet 4 and 280 pounds, is ranked 61st among tackles nationally.
His said his decision to go with UCLA was based on “the reputation of the school and the direction Coach [Rick] Neuheisel is taking the program.”
He also visited Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon. Yandall’s commitment comes on a weekend when the Bruins had several recruits on campus, including La Cañada St. Francis safety Dietrich Riley, Pittsburgh (Ca.) High safety Erick Dargan, Lawrence (Kan.) Free State cornerback Ryan Murphy, Oakland Tech defensive tackle Fred Thompson and Huntington Beach Edison linebacker Jordan Zumwalt.
“It was getting stressful deciding what school to attend,” Yandall said. “I prayed to God and he told me to go there.”
The Bruins have a need at tackle. Freshman Xavier Su’a-Filo decided to take a two-year Mormon mission, leaving a hole on the left side.
Su’a-Filo, who said he would return to UCLA as long as Neuheisel is the coach, stepped in as a true freshman and started 13 games. Su’a-Filo was seventh nationally at tackle coming out of Pleasant Grove (Utah) High.
UCLA has issues on the offensive line. Besides Su’a-Filo’s departure, center Kai Maiava was academically ineligible for the EagleBank Bowl and guard Eddie Williams is recovering from a fracture in his right ankle that required surgery.
“Since Xavier left, the coaches put the decision on me whether to redshirt,” Yandall said. “That’s why I’m going in early. I can get started.”
-- Chris Foster
chris.foster@latimes.com
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