Recruting: UCLA’s Neuheisel has a White-knuckle moment

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The signing day confusion surrounding Lakewood High offensive tackle Torian White resolved itself in UCLA’s favor, but certainly had Bruins Coach Rick Neuheisel concerned for a short time.

White, who committed to UCLA in June, picked up a USC hat in his made-for-signing-day-TV moment Wednesday afternoon. Then buyer’s remorse apparently set him. White flip-flopped again later, signing a letter of intent with UCLA.

“I’d like for Torian to best describe the whys and wherefores of what happened,” Neuheisel said. But, he said, “Last night was the first time I wasn’t able to talk with him. He wasn’t answering [the telephone]. I got worried because of however many nights there were in the contact period, I had talked with him. I felt we had a good relationship. When he picked up the other hat, I was depressed.”

Then came the switch-back.

“They called and said he still hadn’t settled,” Neuheisel said. “I was thrilled that they felt that way and thrilled we had the relationship that felt right. I told his father we’re going to make it right.”

--Chris Foster