UCLA Commit Marcus Rios Proves that Neuheisel Didn’t Leave Mora Stranded

Marcus Rios, a four-star cornerback from Elk Grove, committed to UCLA on Sunday afternoon as Jim Mora’s first commitment on the job. Rios chose the Bruins over Nebraska, Notre Dame, Cal and Oregon, and brings plenty of talent to the UCLA secondary. But despite serving as an important piece for the Bruins’ incoming Class of 2012, the commitment of Marcus Rios shows that UCLA won’t be so bad off during Mora’s first taste of recruiting, and that Rick Neuheisel didn’t exactly leave cupboard bare in terms of recruiting.

In talking to the father of Marcus Rios, it was clear that UCLA was always a top school in the mind of the Rios family. UCLA was the first school to be in contact with Rios, and the family as a whole played a big role in the recruitment, as father Richard Rios said it was important that Marcus was thorough in his recruiting process, selecting the right school.

In that selection process, the Rios family encountered the hot seat of coach Rick Neuheisel, who since Pac-12 Media Day, fought off rumors of his firing and a lack of support among UCLA alumni. Yet despite the pressures endured by the fourth-year coach, he made it clear to recruits that he was selling the UCLA brand(institution, athletic department and all), far before preaching the benefits of his coaching staff.

When asked how much of a problem the transition from Neuheisel to Mora meant to the recruitment of Marcus Rios, his father quickly responded with “zero”. Neuheisel made it clear to the Rios family that no one was bigger than UCLA, including the coach. Neuheisel was adamant that UCLA would still be there regardless of whether or not Neuheisel was toeing the sidelines at the Rose Bowl, while for recruits like Rios, began to form a bond with the university as strong as possible without depending on the variables of a coaching staff, style or pedigree.

The method not only was a smart business decision for Neuheisel in case he remained the head coach in Westwood, but has allowed his replacement Jim Mora to get a running start on the recruiting trail.

For Marcus Rios, the initial meeting with Mora made the difference and sealed the commitment. Mora flew to Sacramento immediately after being hired to go right after Rios and the highly touted Arik Armstead. He preached community involvement and echoed the family values of the Rios family, further cementing the ideals planted by Neuheisel. Mora emphasized what he expected to gain from having Rios on the defensive side of the ball, and earned his first commitment from Rios in a rather triumphant way.

The Bruins have a long way to go until February’s Signing Day, but if Jim Mora can continue to tie together the strong efforts of Rick Neuheisel on the recruiting front, they’ll be in good position to put together a solid first step towards remedying the on-field failures of Neuheisel.

For up-to-the-minute buzz, follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook Fan Page.

Tags: Jim L. Mora, Jim Mora, Marcus Rios, Rick Neuheisel, UCLA