'13 CA OLB Thomas Duarte (Verbal to UCLA)

[Duff Man]

Rivals
Scout
ESPN
247 Sports

Mater Dei H.S. (Santa Ana, CA)

Ht: 6-foot-4
Wt: 225 lbs
40:

Rivals rating: 4*-5.8rr; #26 WR (#226 overall)
Scout rating: 4*; #8 TE
ESPN rating: 3*-79 grade; #8 TE-H
247s rating: 3*-89 rating; #15 TE

Reported Offers: COLORADO, Arizona State, California, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah, Washington

 

[Duff Man]

Duarte is the latest BCS-level player out of traditional power Mater Dei (Matt Barkley and Matt Leinart). As a junior, he had over 800 yards receiving and 7 TDs lining up as a big WR. He earned all-league and all-county honors.

It definitely seems to be a concerted effort by the coaches to make some Orange County inroads. It has been prime recruiting grounds for USC and UCLA for years.

 

[tante]

did we pull any Mater Dei kids last year for football? or just Xavier for basketball.

 

[boydbuff]

I'd be surprised if we take 2 TEs this class given that we had 3 in the 2012 class and the likely small class size this year. If that is the case, I would assume we take Parsons first if he commits?

 

[Duff Man]

did we pull any Mater Dei kids last year for football? or just Xavier for basketball.

No Mater Dei kids for football. We really have been non-existent in Orange County for a while now. I can only think of Bahr and Lockridge out of Mission Viejo.

I'd be surprised if we take 2 TEs this class given that we had 3 in the 2012 class and the likely small class size this year. If that is the case, I would assume we take Parsons first if he commits?

In all likelihood, first TE to commit will be the only one in the class.

 

[Buffnik]

247s article: http://247sports.com/Article/Colorado-offers-rising-TE-61893

As a junior, Duarte caught 52 passes for 819 yards and seven touchdowns. His productivity, his size at 6-4, 225 pounds and his versatility has earned plenty of early attention. Now that attention has blossomed into scholarship offers.

Duarte picked up his first offer on Wednesday night.
“Things are going real good,” Duarte said on Thursday. “I got an offer by Colorado last night so that was good. That was a good way to end the day. It kind of came out of the blue really. They hit me up on facebook and they sent me some mail during the season. I knew they were interested but I didn’t know they were going to offer.”

 

[Duff Man]

http://recruiting.scout.com/2/1160686.html

“I’ve been offered by UCLA and Colorado,” said Duarte. “Colorado offered me on Wednesday as an outside linebacker and UCLA offered me on Thursday as a receiver.”

 

[Buffnik]

Impressing at camps (most recently at USC). Sounds like he'll be a TE in college.

 

[Duff Man]

Greg Biggins ‏@GregBiggins
Mater Dei TE Thomas Duarte out at Elite 11 making some nice plays for the QBs

Scott Enyeart ‏@ScottEnyeart
The real MVP of this camp has been Mater Dei TE Thomas Duarte.

Still impressing...

 

[J.R. Ewing]

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/on-the-trail/post?id=19740

Making his decision after his senior season is over. We do not appear to be in it.

Though he won't make a decision anytime soon, Duarte said a handful of schools stand out. That group includes Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

 

[bigbang2]

Anyone know his 40 time?

 

[Duff Man]

Announcing next weekend at the Semper Fi game. Sounds like Washington or UCLA.

 

[cmgoods]

Ucla