Notre Dame scored a late recruiting victory when Honolulu Punahou High receiver Robert Toma said no to UCLA and yes to Crewcut Charlie Weis.
Toma, the Honolulu Advertiser offensive co-player of the year, had given the Bruins a commitment in October. He was expected to sign with them on Wednesday, but had a last-minute change of heart. On Thursday night, Toma announced that he would join friend and Punahou teammate Manti Te'o at Notre Dame despite having never visited South Bend. So what happened?
Te'o, the hotshot linebacker recruit who had narrowed his list of teams to USC, Notre Dame and UCLA, apparently ruled out the Bruins on Monday night. According to Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News, Te'o had "an unpleasant conversation" with the Bruins when he told them the news.
Wolf writes: "That was followed by a sudden scholarship offer from Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. Did Te'o secure an offer for his best friend? Or did Weis tell Te'o he would take his best friend if Te'o committed to the Irish? Questions, questions?"
Toma told the Advertiser Thursday night that Notre Dame offered a scholarship a month ago.
"I just didn't tell anybody because I didn't want anybody to freak out," Toma said. "I didn't make up my mind until [Wednesday]. That's why I didn't sign. I needed time to think."
Toma did acknowledge that he had no other offers after he committed to UCLA in October. Hawaii offered after he didn't sign Wednesday with UCLA.
Look no further to Lane Kiffen on this one. Kiffen was able to get Nyshier Oliver to re-commit to Tennessee a week before signing day after committing to Notre Dame. Once Oliver went back to Tennessee, a need for a small slot receiver opened up for Notre Dame. Toma got the cold shoulder from Slick Rick once T'ao said no to UCLA and ND offered. If Oliver had gone to ND, Toma most likely would have ended up at Hawaii.
Posted by: T-Bone | February 06, 2009 at 03:03 PM