Here are some news and notes, sights and sounds from the West practice on Friday, Day 3 of the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.
Visits coming for West's top uncommitted prospects
Three of the top uncommitted West prospects are set for a busy January, as defensive tackle Marcel Southall, safety Isaiah Simmons and defensive end Amir Watts will be on the road each weekend. Southall, an ESPN 300 prospect, has already visited Oklahoma and will now take trips to Oklahoma State, Miami and Ole Miss, in that order, in January. Southall said he will likely commit on signing day without first releasing any sort of top group of finalists. He said a few things that will help him make his decision are the environment of the school and how he gets along with the players on the team. He's also looking for a coach who is likely to be there for his entire career.
Simmons, a four-star safety, took an official visit to Illinois in December and will now visit Missouri, Nebraska and Louisville in January. He said that even if his mind is made up soon, he will announce his decision on signing day.
Watts has already taken an official visit to Minnesota and will now trip to Indiana, Pittsburgh and Nebraska. Though things could change after a recent offer from Iowa State, as Watts had a strong relationship with new Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell and defensive line coach Eli Rasheed, who both moved over from Toledo.
One West prospect who likely won't be going anywhere in January is defensive end Amani Bledsoe, as he has already taken all five of his official visits -- to Oregon, Oklahoma, North Carolina State, Baylor and Kansas. Bledsoe said he is hoping to get back home after the Semper Fi Bowl and give himself a week or two to make his decision among those five programs.
New visit for longtime commit
Oregon lost one of its best recruiters in this class when wide receiver Theo Howard decommitted and eventually joined UCLA's class. Now, the Ducks are hoping they can hold onto arguably their top remaining magnet for other players in this class, ESPN 300 cornerback Jared Mayden. Oregon has already withstood Mayden taking official visits to Georgia and Michigan, but now the nation's No. 220 prospect will visit Florida State on Jan. 15 and said he could take a visit to LSU at some point as well.
Big day for Pac-12 commits
Howard was one of several Pac-12 commitments to put together a nice practice on Friday, as the ESPN 300 receiver seemingly caught everything thrown his way. His play of the day likely came on a deep ball that found him in the back corner of the endzone, but he was also very good in one-on-ones and just about everything else.
All Pac-12 play: ASU QB commit Dillon Sterling-Cole to UCLA WR Theo Howard against OSU S Shurod Thompson pic.twitter.com/kl95bVscCt
— Erik McKinney (@EMcKinneyESPN) January 1, 2016
Oregon offensive tackle commit Logan Bathke put together two terrific reps against UCLA defensive line commit Osa Odighizuwa. Here is a look at the second snap.
Oregon OL commit Logan Bathke vs. UCLA DL commit Osa Odighizuwa pic.twitter.com/MQnCIZhV23
— Erik McKinney (@EMcKinneyESPN) January 1, 2016