NO SECOND THOUGHTS: Troy running back Derrick Coleman says his commitment to UCLA is as strong as ever after talking to new coach Rick Neuheisel. THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER FILE PHOTO Related links O.C. football recruiting list Recruiting notebook

Recruiting roundup for Orange County

Updates on Troy's Coleman and others, plus a list of where O.C.'s top players are headed.

UCLA scored some major points with recruit Derrick Coleman when it hired Rick Neuheisel as its football coach.

“I was really glad,” the Troy senior running back said. “I was kind of glad because he’s an offensive guy.”

Coleman committed to the Bruins in June but took an official recruiting trip to USC after Coach Karl Dorrell was fired in early December.

After visiting the Trojans, Coleman took an official trip to Westwood the next weekend and left feeling renewed about his pledge to UCLA.

But with his approval of Neuheisel, Coleman now sounds like an even stronger commit to UCLA. On rivals.com, the All-County member is listed as a soft verbal for the Bruins.

“I’m a solid verbal (for UCLA),” the 6-foot, 225-pound Coleman said. “Everyone else is out.”

(Check out this link to OCVarsity.com's complete list of the top O.C. players being recruited.) 

Coleman said he enjoyed a conversation last week with Neuheisel.

“He’s a really good guy,” he said of the coach, who had been the offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. “That was the first time I had talked to him and I already like him.”

Coleman also said he is not bothered by Neuheisel’s past, which includes a long list of secondary violations at Colorado.

“Whatever he did in the past is the past,” Coleman said. “You’ve just got to worry about the future and what you (can) do now.”

UCLA hopes its future includes a signature from Coleman on National Signing Day on Feb. 6.

ANOTHER BRUIN?
UCLA expressed interest last week in Mater Dei wide receiver/defensive back Carlo Valdes (6-2, 200).

Valdes said it was his first phone conversation with the Bruins since before the high school season. The senior was pleasantly surprised.

“I’ve always liked them (UCLA) since I was a little kid,” said Valdes, who has been offered a scholarship by Washington State.

Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said Washington State likes Valdes’ straight ahead speed at receiver.

STILL SHOPPING?
Orange Lutheran All-County linebacker Ricky Pemasa (6-0, 210) said he is a solid verbal to Fresno State but added he might take more recruiting trips. Boise State is a possibility, the senior said.

LION KING
Westminster defensive lineman/tight end Toa Tuitea (6-3, 255) has at least 10 scholarship offers and is one of the most sought after uncommitted seniors in the county.

Arizona State and Vanderbilt are among his offers. Tuitea took an official trip to Arizona State in December and will visit Vanderbilt this weekend, his brother, Calvin Silva said.

“He really liked Arizona State and he likes the Vanderbilt coaches,” Silva said. “It might come down to those two but other schools are showing interest.”

THICK AND THIN
Mission Viejo linebacker Kameron Krebs (6-1, 210) said Cal, Oregon State, San Diego State and Utah continued to recruit him after he injured his right knee in late July. Krebs only played in the Diablos’ final two games in 2007.

Krebs played his first two seasons at Kahuku in Hawaii and plans to return to the school to graduate.

SHORT ROUTES
San Clemente offensive lineman Kevin Murphy (6-7, 261) has committed to Ivy League champion Harvard. … Santa Margarita defensive lineman Logan Harrell (6-3, 265) has a well-known god parent. Harrell’s god father is former Ram and Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood, who played with Harrell’s father, Robert, at the University of Florida. Harrell has six scholarship offers, including one from Washington State. … Kennedy coach Mitch Olson hopes that two-way lineman Jeremy Hensley (6-1, 270) will pick up some recruiting interest by playing in the inaugural Southern California Bowl on Jan. 26 at Cal State Fullerton at 1:15 p.m. “I definitely think he can go on and play (Division I-A),” Olson said. “On the field, he’s a mean and tough kid.” … Mater Dei senior-to-be quarterback Matt Barkley attended the U.S. Army All-American Bowl last week in San Antonio and was selected the Maxwell Award Club’s Outstanding Junior. The award was presented by former Philadelphia Eagles player Vince Papale, the subject of the movie “Invincible.”

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com