• Jordan Payton back on the market

  • By Greg Biggins | July 4, 2011 6:13:00 AM PDT
What many have been expecting for months finally became reality over the weekend when ESPNU 150 receiver Jordan Payton (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian) decommitted from USC. Payton was the first 2012 player to commit to USC, announcing for the Trojans in March of 2010. His commitment looked solid at the time but over the last year, there were several rumblings speculating that both parties could look to go in a different direction before Payton signed a letter of intent next February.While committed, Payton was open saying he wanted to take his official visits and took an unofficial visit to Cal for the Bears' junior day and also visited UCLA last spring. The receiver has already set up an official visit to Arkansas and will also likely check out Arizona State, Cal and Michigan.Payton has said he's still considering the Trojans but if there's a front runner right now, it looks like Cal. The Bears wowed Payton at their junior day, the receiver has a solid relationship with Cal quarterback commit Zach Kline and Bears super recruiter Tosh Lupoi is the coaching handling his recruitment.Under-the-radar OL Oliver starting to get attentionDespite not starting a game his junior season, offensive lineman Kyree Oliver (Brentwood, Calif./Heritage) is hearing from several FBS programs and has one Pac-12 offer on the table.Oliver played behind a pair of players who signed with Division I programs a year ago including his brother Will, who signed with UCLA, and Will Strauss, who signed with Navy."Playing behind two great players greatly limited my playing time," Oliver said. "I have developed a ton over the last year and I can't wait for the season to start so I can show the coaches what kind of player I've become. Last year was a building year for me and I've busted my butt all offseason, six days a week, twice a day with a trainer and I'm ready to be an unstoppable force this coming season."At 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, Oliver has the size colleges covet and he showed enough in backup minutes to garner an offer from Colorado and heavy interest in several other schools as well."I'm also hearing from UCLA, USC, Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona State, Washington, Utah, Nevada, Fresno State, San Diego State and a few others," Oliver said. "I haven't taken any visits yet although I did go to the Cal camp last week and met with the coaches and had a chance to showcase my talent for a few days."As for future official visits, I haven't narrowed my list down yet and really just want to focus on my senior season right now. I want the schools to see how much I developed since last year. I want them to know what they're investing in before they make a decision of whether to offer or not and obviously that will affect my decision too."Although Oliver said he has yet to narrow his list down, he does have three schools he would like to check out."I would like to visit Colorado, UCLA and Oregon," Oliver said. "A lot will depend on how I'm recruited and who I feel comfortable with. I want to see who really wants me and how hard these schools recruit me. After that, it will depend on where I can see myself fitting in and where I'm most comfortable."

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