Bolden had a breakout year this past season, as he had 51 receptions, 718 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Along with that he also rushed for two touchdowns and returned one punt for a touchdown. Bolden accounted for 10 total touchdowns this season and was aa bright spot for an Oregon State program with a bright future.
]]>Jacob Manu has been a key player on the defensive side of the ball, as the sophomore captain finished the season with 97 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 1 interception. Manu was awarded the Lott Impact Trophy twice throughout this past season and has helped lead this defensive unit and played a crucial impact in Arizona’s successful season where they beat 4 ranked teams.
Jonah Coleman was a key player on the offensive side of the ball for Arizona this season accumulating 1,133 total yards, with 851 yards coming from the ground, and 282 receiving yards. Coleman also had 5 rushing touchdowns and 1 receiving touchdown. Coleman looks to be a key player in this offense for years to come as he is only a sophomore.
]]>Optimal Sports is honored to welcome speedy 3-star wide receiver and incoming Oregon State Beaver, Zachary Card.
Card began training in Corvallis in the Spring, wowing the coaches at camp with consistent touchdowns and by posting the fastest 40-yard dash time on the entire team at 4.32 seconds. He’s been praised as one of the best newcomers to the program, having already been named a Letterwinner by Head Coach Victor Galli.
This Brentwood, CA isn’t unfamiliar with earning titles; his senior year at Pittsburg High culminated with winning second place at the CIF 1-A State Football Championship. Throughout the season, Card secured 35 catches for 673 yards, eight touchdowns and 57 tackles, leading the Pirates to a 12-3 record.
As fall football approaches, you can be sure that Card will be one to watch out on the gridiron. Optimal Sports is excited to welcome him, and to support him in his season!
]]>Silas had a break out Sophomore year for the Beavers, as he had 23 passes for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns, in addition to also rushing for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns, all while helping lead the Beavers to an impressive 10-3 record. In addition to this, Silas averaged 27.2 yards per kickoff return, among the top leaders in the Pac-12. This led to him being named to All-Pac-12 Second Team (return specialist), Phil Steele All-Pac-12 First Team (kick return), and PFF All-Pac-12 Second Team (kick returner).
He will look to build another impressive season as the Beavers are ranked #18 in the AP Top 25 poll to start the season.
]]>The three-star safety who’s coming on strong at SC: Optimal Sports is honored to welcome Christian Pierce. Pierce committed to the Trojans in December of last year, turning down over eighteen other offers from schools including Michigan, UCLA, Utah, Arizona and Washington, choosing instead to make a statement in Southern California since he began playing there in March of this year.
The 6’2”, 180 pound Rancho Cucamonga, California native is fresh off an outstanding senior high school season, with the Cougars finishing strong at 9-3. Pierce accumulated 65 tackles, three interceptions and four pass break-ups, plus, to hammer his point home, he secured the title of League Defensive MVP.
After graduating a semester early, Pierce immediately set to work for the Trojans in 2023. He received a special shout-out from USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley following his performance in the 2023 Spring Game, played in April at the iconic LA Coliseum. Pierce snagged an interception and scored a game-high of three tackles, the kind of next-level playmaking that ultimately claimed the 42-34 victory for the Defense. “I don’t think anybody on either sideline was surprised to see that,” said Riley about Pierce, according to On3 Sports.
If there’s one thing clear from Riley’s recognition, it’s to always expect greatness when it comes to Pierce. Optimal Sports is excited to work with such a show-stopping safety, and cannot wait to see how he continues to shut it down throughout his college career!
]]>Hot off a highly anticipated commitment to USC last month, the hype has been kicked into high-gear for four-star safety Marquis Gallegos; Optimal Sports is thrilled to welcome this rising star as our newest signee.
Gallegos was a heavily pursued player throughout his recruiting timeline, with 19 offers from elite programs like Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, UCLA and Washington. He announced his decision to join the Trojans on June 27, embracing the identity of hometown hero since he hails from the West Hills area of Los Angeles.
The 6’1 and 175 pound free safety was named a 2022 Mission League Co-Defensive Player of the Year at the end of his junior season at Chaminade High, a well-deserved honor after tallying 96 tackles, 11 pass break-ups, 7 interceptions and a blocked punt. For his final season before officially joining the Trojans, he’ll be playing at Sierra Canyon.
With Gallegos ranking as 27th safety in the nation, and the 3rd in California for the 2024 class, as per 247Sports, we can’t wait to watch as he continues excelling into his senior year, and afterwards when he heads to USC. Optimal Sports is proud to represent him, and to congratulate him on his commitment!
]]>Optimal Sports is excited to announce the signing of four-star, nationwide top-20 inside linebacker, Tre Edwards. Edwards will be an incoming Freshman at UCLA this fall, having committed in May of 2022 after being a top prospect at over nine schools across the country including Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Oregon and Arkansas.
In addition to being ranked the No. 14 inside linebacker in the country, as per ESPN, the Chula Vista native was also named the No. 25 prospect in California and the No. 31 linebacker according to 247Sports. This recognition comes following his outstanding career at Mater Dei Catholic (San Diego, CA), where he stacked even more titles by helping secure two straight CIF Division 2-AA State Titles in his Junior and Senior years.
Standing at 6’1 and 220 pounds, Edwards is a force to be reckoned with, possessing both intimidating size but also quick-fire instincts that swiftly and surely stop a play on first contact. Racking up 96 tackles his Junior season, 77 tackles his Senior season and being named the All-CIF San Diego Section Defensive Player of the Year title for both, Edwards is a deadly defensive weapon who’s got an impressive array of accolades under his belt.
Optimal Sports is looking forward to watching him collect even more, as he goes on to accomplish great things with the Bruins. Welcome, Tre!
]]>The show-stopping defensive standout who’s shaking things up: Optimal Sports is proud to announce the signing of three-star defensive lineman Grant Buckey. After committing to USC in June of last year, Buckey flipped his commitment in December, stoking the flames of a decades-long crosstown rivalry with his decision to instead pledge UCLA.
The 6’5, 265 pound Bakersfield, California native had long been in high demand, shining brightly as the No. 54 Defensive Lineman in the nation and securing eighteen other offers including Michigan, Stanford, Colorado and Arizona prior to his original commitment.
Buckey’s also fresh off an outstanding Senior season at Liberty High School, where he claimed not only 64 tackles and 8 sacks, but also a 2022 CIF Division 1-A state football championship title for the Patriots for the second year in a row.
With an ex-NFL father and brother currently playing at Stanford, it’s crystal clear that Buckey will be moving onto bigger, brighter and better things with the Bruins and beyond. Optimal Sports is excited to be playing a part in that future, and to support this breakout star in his upcoming freshman year as he reps the blue-and-gold. Welcome to Westwood, Grant!
]]>After officially committing to the Fighting Irish in the summer of 2022, Rico Flores Jr. is gearing up for what will inevitably be an impressive fall season as a wide receiver. As an early enrollee, Flores has already had the chance to make an impression on the team and get ready for the upcoming fall season.
Flores is dangerous competition and has looked like the real deal in these early practices in South Bend. He really is a modern type of wide receiver. His combination of high football IQ and crisp route running ability allows him to exploit weak spots in other teams’ defenses.
With spring practices starting only a few weeks ago, Flores already looks like a stud. He’s such a confident route runner and catches the ball very well. He has caught the eye of many Fighting Irish writers, most notably BlueandGold.com's Tim Hyde and Mike Singer, who have raved about his high ceiling as a true freshman.
While Flores could not play in the All-American Bowl due to an injury, he still made the trip out to San Antonio to show his support. After his fall injury, he is almost at 100% again while participating in spring practices. “I’m pretty close. I’m real close,” he added. “I still try to keep strengthening it because it’s gonna be hard to get all the way back to 100. I’m out here running routes. It hasn’t been bothering me,” said Flores to 247 Sports.
The whole 2023 recruiting class for Notre Dame is exceptional. It’s a group of players that could really shake up college football, specifically starting with Flores.
Optimal Sports Management is excited to announce that linebacker Naki Tuakoi has joined us! Tuakoi is a part of the 2024 recruiting class and has over 17 offers from schools nationwide.
The Oakland, CA, native is a 4-star linebacker at 6’3 and 220 lbs and has been seriously connected to various programs as his recruitment heats up. In addition to Notre Dame, Tuakoi has been looking at top-tier programs such as USC, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Utah, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
Notre Dame defensive coordinator, Al Golden, is determined that Tuakoi is a vital key to improving their defense. Notre Dame has been incredibly welcoming to him and would be an excellent fit for his college career.
Naki had his first visit with USC head coach Lincoln Riley last week. USC wants to continue the strength of its linebacker room, which is the most substantial part of its defense.
Tuakoi has been ranked the 24th-best linebacker and the 35th-best overall player in the 2024 class in California.
Naki will have some big decisions to make as he begins his season come fall time.
Optimal Sports is looking forward to supporting Tuakoi in his decision and college career in the future!
After starting 8-1 in the 2022 college football season the Bruins were ranked #9 in the country. The Bruins ended their season down the stretch 9-4 and with a #21 ranking UCLA missed out on some of their postseason hopes such as losing to their nearby rivals the USC Trojans, missing out on the Pac-12 Championship, not making the Rose Bowl, losing the Sun Bowl to University of Pittsburgh, and missing out on the college football playoffs. The disappointing end of the season hit the program hard due to the high hopes that were set on them just weeks before. Even with the disappointment this was the best record that UCLA has had since 2014 and only their 3rd year since over .500. No matter what the end of the season held for UCLA, their 8-5 season in 2021 and 9-4 season in 2022 go on to prove that the program is on the rise. With the program planning on making the move to the Big 10 in 2025, the monetary generation for the program has never been higher. The waves that UCLA is making in college football have been nationally recognized, with the program on the rise, their recruiting classes have been top 10 in the past couple of years, including Jack Pedersen. Many of the best current players have utilized the transfer portal to further improve UCLA’s roster.
]]>In his two years at Edison high, Raleek Brown earned MVP of the conference twice. For the first time in over 40 years, Edison high won the state title in part to the efforts and talent of Raleek Brown. Edison high had a growing fan base due to the remarkable efforts and plays by Raleek Brown, so many were sad to see him transfer to Mater Dei.
In his junior year at Mater Dei, Raleek Brown would only play a total of 5 games due to the COVID pandemic of 2020. Due to the shortened season Raleek Brown was only able to build up a total of 452 yards, an average of 90.4 yards a game, and a total of 5 touchdowns. Even with the shortened season Raleek Brown still proved to be a powerful force on the field and was able to come back stronger in his senior season at Mater Dei.
In Raleek Brown’s senior season at Mater Dei he played a total of 11 games. In total he had 1,230 yards for an average 111.8 yards a game. He also had 15 touchdowns on the season and was able to help get Mater Dei to the state final. In his two years at Mater Dei, Brown helped his team go undefeated and win not only 2 state titles but also 2 national titles.
After high school Raleek Brown committed to the University of Southern California and was awarded a scholarship to play football and has made a terrific start in his freshman year in the NCAA. He played in a total of 14 games in his freshman season with 42 rushing attempts equaling 277 yards as well as 16 catches for a total of 175 yards. And in addition, his first year Raleek Brown scored a total of 6 touchdowns.
]]>Throughout his life, Raleek Brown has had some great role models and coaches that have made a huge impact on his football career but none bigger than his father, Roscoe Brown. Raleek Brown’s dad has had a massive impact in his career starting from his flag football days. It was thanks to Raleek Brown’s father that Raleek started the sport of football at a young age.
After making the switch to move Raleek from the flag football league to the contact football league Raleek’s father made another switch just after his first year in the new league to move him up in the age groups. Raleek Brown was even better in the contact football league than he was in flag football, he was scoring numerous touchdowns and raking up countless yards. Raleek Brown’s dad knew right away that Raleek was a great player which led to him moving Raleek up in the league in order to challenge him in the sport.
Ultimately Raleek just kept dominating his football league with countless touchdowns and kept surpassing all other players that his father sought out additional training and coaching for him. Seeking out Mori Sue’sue’s, a highly respected 7v7 coach and talent evaluator, help and guidance for Raleek to help him harness his skills and talent. Raleek Brown first attended a USC camp when he was in the sixth grade with the help of Sue’sue and ended up out performing everyone.
At the 7v7 level alone Raleek Brown was beating out high school players for starting positions at running back which makes it no surprise he was out competing high school athletes at collegiate football camps. At his young age every coach that watched Raleek Brown play was impressed with his quick speed and natural talent.
When Raleek eventually got to high school he continued to be an unstoppable player. Earning MVP both his freshman and sophomore years at Edison High School, Stockton, CA racking up 2,429 total yards in his first year alone. In his first two years of high school Raleek Brown had made a name for himself as a highly skilled and highly talented player. Raleek Brown only played his freshman and sophomore year at Edison high and then transferred for his junior and senior year to Mater Dei high school.
With his family’s decision to transfer to Mater Dei high school, a private school in Santa Ana, CA, not just about the challenge it offered Raleek Brown for football, but for the better environment he would be exposed to. Mater Dei offered Raleek Brown quite a challenge as he had to work harder than he had before to earn his spot on the field. With this challenge came a lot of learning for Raleek Brown that ultimately made his sense and knowledge of the game stronger.
With the added challenge of covid delaying his playing at Mater Dei until his senior year Raleek Brown still proved to be a remarkable player. With 15 touchdowns and over 1,000 rushing yards Raleek Brown ended his senior year as a top prospect for the 2022 class. Originally committed to the University of Oklahoma, Raleek Brown ultimately landed at the University of Southern California.
Arizona running back Jonah Coleman claimed his spot on the gridiron from the get-go in his past Freshman season, seeing action in all 12 games for the Wildcats. Coleman averaged five yards per carry and 31 yards per game, though his stunning performance against Washington and in-state rival Arizona State easily topped the chart for the year.
Coleman started in Seattle against the Huskies, his first career start at Arizona and certainly one to remember. He rushed his season-high of 53 yards and punched in a touchdown for the Wildcats, narrowing the margin against Washington to a close 39-49 loss.
He returned with a vengeance in the iconic Territorial Cup rivalry game, played against the Arizona State Sun Devils in November. After the halftime huddle, with the Wildcats losing 10-14, Coleman came out guns blazing and fired into the endzone to clutch an Arizona lead with his touchdown. His focus never flagged throughout the game, as he rushed an additional five times for a total of 48 yards to help bring home the Territorial Cup Title, breaking a five-year losing streak for the Wildcats.
Rushing a total of 75 times for 372 yards and four touchdowns, Coleman dominated his Freshman season and proved that he’s the kind of player that can turn the tide of battle in nail-biters like those at Washington and Arizona State. Optimal Sports is proud to support him as he continues making history with the Wildcats.
]]>From scout team standout to the heart of Arizona’s defense: in his freshman season, linebacker Jacob Manu rose not only through the Wildcat’s ranks, but exploded beyond when he received conference-wide recognition as a Pac-12 Freshman of The Week.
Standing at 5’11” and 220 pounds, Manu is on the lighter side for a Linebacker, and at the start of his Freshman season he’d been assigned as a scout team player. However, he rose to the challenge and relentlessly put in the work, catching the attention of defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen, who suggested they give him a shot.
Since then, they’ve never looked back.
Beginning with the game against Washington in October, Manu became a full-time starter for the Wildcats. Though they took a close 39-49 loss, Manu captured a career high of ten tackles, plus a pass breakup and two QB hurries.
This personal performance was only rivaled during ‘Zona’s massive upset against UCLA, in which they claimed a 34-28 win at the Rose Bowl. Manu tied his personal record of ten tackles, but even more impressively, he took home the title of Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.
After grinding out a name for himself on his team, and then attracting league-wide attention this past year, Manu has proved to be a defensive menace, and one whom it would be wise to watch out for in the upcoming season.
]]>Jonah Coleman grew up in Stockton, CA; a city known for its share of social struggles and violence. From an early age, Jonah Coleman was faced with difficult times. He grew up in a large family with seven siblings, and his family frequently experienced financial hardships. Most notably, their family experienced a scare when Jonah’s father was shot. Jonah Coleman claims that growing up in Stockton was a very arduous experience, filled with violence and danger.
He stated in an interview that one can either choose to be violent in the streets, or violent on the field. Jonah Coleman feels that football has been the perfect outlet for him to express his frustrations and his pain. Jonah Coleman knows that he can channel it all into exceptional play on the field.
Along with being able to express his emotions on the field, Jonah Coleman also has other motivations for football. After seeing his dad recover from getting shot, he felt motivated to be a guiding light for his father. He wanted to give him hope. Jonah Coleman said that seeing his family struggle to make ends meet, and to give their child great opportunities, has motivated him to one day make enough money to give them a better life, where money wouldn't be an issue. It's reasons like this that pushed Jonah to achieve impressive feats such as scoring his first career touchdown.
Jonah Coleman also spoke upon his role models, including his dad. He talked about how his father found himself involved in gang life during his younger years, and struggled to find a way out. Once Jonah’s father had his children, he knew he could not sustain that life. His dad spent his time keeping Jonah on track with football and school, to ensure that he would not veer off into the same life he lived. He desired a better upbringing for his kids. His father bettered himself to better his family, and that inspired Jonah. Jonah hopes to continue using his inspiration to find success in Arizona.
After six seasons with head coach Jim Mora at the helm, UCLA signed former University of Oregon coach Chip Kelly as his replacement. This is Chip Kelly’s fifth season as the head coach of the UCLA Bruins, but only in the last two years has he been able to find success with the UCLA program. Last season they were able to pull it together and go 8-4, and improved to 9-3 this season.
In an interview with Jadyn Marshall, he discussed the way that Chip Kelly has been improving the UCLA program. Jadyn Marshall said that Chip Kelly feels the energy in the UCLA locker room, and the culture of the program has begun to shift, and for the better.
One of the biggest factors that has contributed to UCLA’s success as of late is the emergence of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) possibilities for collegiate athletes. The PAC-12 was a struggling conference in recent years, but now that the laws have changed regarding athletes profiting from their own names, images, and likenesses, west coast college teams have become a hotspot for high school recruits. The NIL possibilities, along with the potential for fame and fortune in California is definitely an attractive concept for a young high school recruit. The bright lights and opportunities of Los Angeles have definitely shown to cause a trend with college athlete recruitment, as over the last two years, USC and UCLA football have gained many more highly touted recruits. For example, UCLA just landed the number 11 recruit in the class of 2023, quarterback Dante Moore.
Looking ahead for UCLA football, following the 2023 season they will become part of the Big Ten, which will mean more money for the program, and an increase of size for the university. UCLA was permitted to join this conference on several conditions, which included a required amount of money towards mitigating travel expenses, funding mental health and wellness programs for the athletes, as well as academic help. Will all of this be worth it for the UCLA program? That is unsure. What is sure is that the UCLA athletes will now be competing in a much more competitive conference, on prime time television. This opportunity will attract more talent to the university, and therefore cause UCLA to become one of the most prominent programs in college football.
]]>The Fighting Irish are getting one of the best wide receivers in the state of California. Rico is among one of the best 4-star players that the state has produced. Before committing to the Fighting Irish, he held over 30 college offers that included: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, USC, and Tennessee. However, he chose Notre Dame due to the close relationships he developed with the coaching staff and his ability to make an immediate impact as a Freshman. With his commitment, Notre Dame now has the #6 ranked 2023 recruiting class per 247 Sports.
The road to Notre Dame was never an easy one and Rico gives a lot of credit to his single mother, who helped raise him and make him into the amazing football player he is today and the even better man he is off the field. Rico also credits his coaches for his development. Paul Doherty, the head football coach at Folsom, credits Rico with his tenacious mentality, maturity, and focus to be the best player possible. Lastly, Rico credits his godfather, Lem Adams, who is also the owner of Game-Fit, a personal training facility based in Sacramento, for helping him develop his football skills.
Before Rico reports to Notre Dame in mid-January, he will be attending the prestigious The All-American Bowl that will be played in San Antonio on January 7, 2023. The All-American Bowl is presented and aired on NBC and showcases the most elite high school players in the nation. Previous attendees include Andrew Luck, Adrian Peterson, Chase Young, and Odell Beckham Jr.
]]>Raleek Brown caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to help the Trojans jump out to an early 14-0 lead. However, that was the only lead the Trojans would get as the Utes would go on to outscore them 30-7 in the second half.
USC will now likely play in the Cotton Bowl on January 2nd, 2023 as they still had a dazzling 10-2 record to end the season. With Austin Jones potentially declaring for the NFL Draft and Travis Dye out for the season, Raleek Brown is poised to be more involved in the offense going forward.
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