Uncommitted: Damien Mama dropping weight and UCLA

BELLFLOWER, Calif. -- Some lucky college football program in America is going to get a commitment from hulking St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) lineman Damien Mama. That same lucky college is going to get less Mama than there is now.

And that lucky college won't be UCLA.

The 6-foot-5, 353-pound guard is the nation's No. 1 player, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and earlier this week narrowed his list down to three suitors: USC, Alabama and BYU. Those schools will get a player with a winning pedigree and a player who is working hard to lose weight before moving on to the next level.

"You always want to get better. Mainly for me it is dropping weight and getting stronger," Mama said Monday as his team celebrated its MaxPreps Tour of Champions trophy in an on-campus ceremony. "I feel like I can get faster."

He's made changes to his nutritional routine in a quest to shed some of that weight. It's going great, except for the loads of great food he got during his official visit to nearby USC.

"I've been getting on a meal plan, cutting down what I eat. I'm eating lots of protein and staying away from carbs," said Mama, a MaxPreps All-American.

Many feel that the big man will be staying close to home, as the 247 Crystal Ball has USC as a 100 percent lock. Head coach Steve Sarkisian was on campus this week, trying to woo Mama to come take part in the Trojans' effort to get back to national prominence. His decision will be unveiled on National Signing Day with a morning appearance on television.

The process for the uncommitted youngster has been a mixed bag. He's getting plenty of support from his Bosco football family and his family at home, but the persistent attention can get tiresome. Mama said there is lots to enjoy - and there will be relief when it's all over.

"Half and half. I know I'll never get this again, so I want to enjoy it while it lasts. But another part is I want to get it over with," said Mama, whose team finished 16-0 and No. 1 in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.

His highest priority is academics, Mama said. He is interested in studying kinesiology or maybe business, and treating that choice like his football one: Not rushing. His second priority is networking that schools can provide him when he is done playing college football.

His unmistakable size has grabbed him attention. But Mama said he wasn't sure about his college chances until after his sophomore year. He had attended Moreno Valley (Calif.) and JW North (Riverside, Calif.) his freshman year, then had to sit out most of his sophomore season at Bosco due to transfer rules. His junior performance catapulted him into the national spotlight.

"I didn't play for scholarships. I just played for love of game. Picking up an offer made me realize I could really play this game," he said.

Now comes his moment in the spotlight. While the consensus on the Internet is that USC will be his choice, his words when talking about his commitment show that he is still considering Alabama and BYU. Nobody close to him will be providing pressure either way.

"My family, they joke around and say 'Stay home, go to SC.' Or when Alabama was on a big run they said 'Go to the No. 1 team.' They know I will make the right decision," Mama said. "My parents want me to make my own decision and do the homework on the school. There's not really pressure from them, just lots of support."

Keep an eye on the big guy's announcement on Signing Day, and take a mental picture. Mama's body might look a lot different when he's in a USC uniform. Or Alabama uniform. Or BYU uniform.

247 Crystal Ball Breakdown
USC: 100%