Tyler Gaffney picks Stanford - See below
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
The nation’s top defensive prep player picked arguably college football’s best defensive team on Tuesday morning in Phoenix, Ariz.
Before a small but highly interested gathering in the school’s performing arts center before classes, Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.) defensive end Devon Kennard announced he had picked USC as his college choice over Texas, California and local favorite Arizona State.
Kennard, the son of former NFL center Derek Kennard, was the nation’s highest-ranked recruit yet to verbally commit among CBS College Sports recruiting expert Tom Lemming’s Top 100 National Recruits from the Class of 2009.
He ranks No. 4 overall and No. 1 on defense after recording 24 sacks as a junior.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder missed all but three games his senior year due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
He told a gathering of family, friends, teammates and classmates that it was the hardest decision of his life but he picked the Trojans largely based on the bonds made during USC Rising Stars Camps the last two summers.
Sporting a USC cap throughout the short announcement, Kennard said he ultimately made the decision on his own. Leaving the state but being close to home and playing in the Pac-10 Conference were other factors, he said.
Kennard joins a defense that allowed just 221 yards and 9.0 points per game, but that will take a big hit from graduation. Linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing are expected to go in the first round of the NFL Draft.
The Trojans did land a pair of blue chip linebackers in Vontaze Burfict (Centennial, Corona, Calif.) and Marquis Simmons (Dominguez, Compton, Calif.), and last week received a commitment from Kevin Greene (Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Francisco), another top defensive end.
Kennard told reporters that he is being cleared for agility drills this week and plans to contribute to the Trojans next season.
Among those in attendance were Kennard’s father, his brother and personal trainer Derek Jr., USC's new defensive line coach Jethro Franklin and Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds.
Though locals wanted him to stay close, all were genuinely happy for Kennard, said Arizona Republic staff writer and longtime prep expert Richard Obert.
Kennard is extremely popular among team and classmates. When Kennard woke from his knee surgery in the fall, a group of teammates were kneeling and praying for him.
"He's just an extremely smart and charismatic kid," Obert said. "He's the type who could be president one day. He's got a great support system and everyone was happy for him because Devon was happy."
The connection with USC coach Pete Carroll was evidently key. The high energy coach is precisely what Kennard responds to and the bright lights of Southern California and Hollywood was another major attraction.
"It's an atmostphere where you're destined to be great," Kennard said at the press conference.
More Recruiting News
Gaffney to The Farm
MaxPreps' California State Division II Player of the Year and first team Medium School All American Tyler Gaffney has committed to Stanford, according to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Gaffney, who led Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) to a CIF State Division II Bowl Game title by rushing for a San Diego Section-record 2,866 yards and scoring 56 touchdowns, picked the Cardinal over Notre Dame and USC.
"It just felt perfect, a comfortable feeling," Gaffney told Steve Brand of the Union-Tribune.
Hall to announce choice on Friday
Obert said another top Arizona recruit, Adam Hall, a 6-5, 205-pound athlete, will announce his verbal commitment on Friday. The Palo Verde (Tucson) senior has narrowed his choices between Arizona, Cal and Oregon.
Hall’s father has strong ties to Arizona and it appeared to be the leader, but there’s some indication that Oregon has emerged as the leader. Hall was a second-team MaxPreps All-American as a running back. He scored 38 touchdowns in a variety of ways for Palo Verde.
"He was a manchild on the field," Obert said.
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com
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