Signing Day Blog: Gorman’s Broadus picks UCLA, flips dad Snoop Dogg into a Bruins fan

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 | 2:24 p.m.

Rapper Snoop Dogg is changing his wardrobe. Goodbye, USC maroon and gold. Hello, UCLA blue and gold.

Bishop Gorman High wide receiver Cordell Broadus, his son, picked UCLA over Arizona State and crosstown Los Angeles rival USC today on national signing day. The announcement was made live on ESPNU and will be part of the last episode of the documentary “Snoop & Son: A Dad’s Dream,” which airs at 4 p.m. today on ESPN.

In a previous episode, when Broadus was considering UCLA, Snoop Dogg joked he would always support his son but wouldn’t get rid of his USC “drawers.” Snoop Dogg was a regular at USC practice during the program’s glory years under Peter Carroll and didn’t hide his desire for Cordell to select USC.

Today, on the second floor of Gorman’s Fertitta Athletic Training Center and in front of a national television audience, Cordell flipped one of Southern California’s most notable personalities into a UCLA fan.

“I back him up 100 percent. I’m going to throw away those USC drawers,” Snoop Dogg jokingly said.

USC didn’t go down without a fight.

When word started to spread Broadus was favoring UCLA, USC coaches this morning made multiple calls to the family and Gorman coach Kenny Sanchez in a last-ditch attempt. USC even messaged during the announcement.

It was too late. Broadus cited a familiarity with the UCLA coaches, who offered him a scholarship when he was a ninth grader, as the main reason he picked the Bruins.

“It was a hectic process,” he said.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 190-pound Broadus transferred to Gorman from Southern California for his senior season. He finished with 602 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in a season documented by cameras for the four-series documentary.

Today, Broadus took the next step in his journey, finally deciding to return to California and attend UCLA.

After the cameras were off and editors were busy getting the final minutes of the show ready for tonight, the Broadus family enjoyed a moment together taking personal photos. Most wore shirts reading, ‘“Ain’t Nothing But A G Thang,” lyrics from one of Snoop Dogg’s songs.

During the season, the ‘G’ was the Gorman logo. Today, the Gorman logo was traded for UCLA blue and gold. Father and son also sported matching No. 21 UCLA jerseys.

It’s a UCLA family now.

“It’s awesome watching him step into manhood. We are Bruins now,” Snoop Dogg said.

An email led to Cimarron-Memorial QB signing with Navy

He was the envy of most uncommitted high school football players in Las Vegas.

Cimarron-Memorial High quarterback Derek Morefield had no scholarship offers and limited interest three weeks before national signing day. So he took matters into his own hands, sending an email with game highlights to coaches at the school he wanted to attend.

Two hours later, he received a return email from Navy’s offensive coordinator saying the school was interested in recruiting him. Today, on national signing day, the 6-foot, 190-pound southpaw signed a letter of intent with Navy.

It was the lone email he sent, because he felt Navy’s run-heavy offense best fit his skill set as a dual-threat quarterback. He didn’t know what to expect when he clicked send on the email.

“Navy was the school for me. That’s where I wanted to be,” he said. “I went from having that feeling of being overlooked to shock they got back to me so quickly.”

Morefield, who passed for 1,421 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2013, expects to go directly to the Naval Academy. He won’t immediately play because Navy is established at the quarterback position, but he knows Navy coaches think they can develop him into a contributor.

“I have to get myself in shape,” he said. “I need to get bigger, stronger and faster.”

It’s an opportunity he didn’t expect to have. But one email changed his life.

Las Vegas High’s Jacob Littlefield to play for Air Force after church mission

When college football coaches stopped by Las Vegas High to recruit Jacob Littlefield, the all-state linebacker made sure they knew of his priorities.

Part of the next stage of his life would be serving a two-year church mission. It’s common for college-football-playing members of the LDS church to serve missions before college or to leave after playing just one season. But that happens mostly at universities in Utah, where the church is headquartered.

Littlefield today signed with Air Force.

“They were all for it,” Littlefield said. “When (Air Force coach Troy) Calhoun came by my house Tuesday, he said he wanted me to go on a mission. He said it would make me a better man. That’s how I knew Air Force is the right fit.”

Mormon athletes are often faced with the dilemma of whether to serve their mission, knowing the window to play college sports — or reach the professional ranks — is slim. For Littlefield, who was a three-time all-Northeast selection, there was never any consideration.

The Air Force program already has a few players on missions. They also have an LDS chaplain.

“God has done so much for me. I can give him two years of my life,” Littlefield said.

He’ll leave in June for basic training in Colorado Springs, Colo., and attend one year of the academy or Air Force prep schools before his mission.

Then he’ll return to give Air Force a big-time threat on defense. The Falcons were his lone Division-I offer because he’s just 6 feet tall and 195 pounds.

But you can’t measure toughness with a tape measure. In last season’s Sunrise Regional quarterfinals, Littlefield was inserted as Las Vegas’ feature running back because of injuries, playing the position for the first time in high school.

He rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, playing the second half with a broken collarbone. The injury ended his season.

It’s those type of character kids Air Force consistently wins with. Running back Jacobi Owens of Centennial High in Las Vegas was overlooked in the recruiting process before Air Force found him three years ago. Owens enjoyed a breakout season in 2013 to lead Air Force in rushing yards, including dominating against hometown UNLV.

Littlefield, who had 124 tackles as a junior, including 18 for a loss, might be the next from Southern Nevada to enjoy college success.

That will be determined in three years — after his mission.

Liberty player — not the one going to USC — symbolizes what signing day is about

Liberty High defensive lineman John Groom Jr. was easily overshadowed today in Patriots coach Rich Muraco's office when he signed his national letter of intent with Georgetown. Groom signed next to Noah Jefferson, a four-star recruit and one of the nation’s top 100 prospects, who is headed to USC.

Sports news is dominated today by talking heads analyzing which powerhouse program got the best high school players. We’ll hear plenty about USC, Alabama, Ohio State and the others. And rightfully so — the 6-foot-5, 285-pound Jefferson was Nevada’s No. 1 prospect and could develop into an impact player at USC.

But other programs are filling out their rosters, too.

For the 6-foot, 290-pound Groom, going to Georgetown was more than finding a college football home. When he started investigating colleges this summer, the No. 1 priority was education.

“We looked at a lot of great schools, but nothing compared to what Georgetown had to offer,” Groom said. “The visit did it for me. I was welcomed and felt part of the family right away.”

Groom, who had 48 tackles and five sacks in 2014, combined with Jefferson to give Liberty a solid defensive line. It made Groom a better player.

“Every team would double team Noah. The focus was on him,” Groom said. “That allowed me to (develop).”

The college football world — supporters are fanatic on this day — was waiting for Jefferson, who is considered the nation’s No. 52 overall player, to fax in his letter of intent. That officially makes him a part of USC.

Groom could have easily felt overshadowed. But this day belonged to two Liberty football players. They shared the signing day moment, realizing they are among the lucky ones to earn a spot at the next level.

Both Georgetown and USC became better places.

His brother played for Navy, but Gorman’s Palelei will sign with Army

Ethan Palelei had two college football scholarship offers and what some would assume would be an easy decision in picking a school.

The first offer was from Navy, where his older brother, Evan Palelei, played defensive end through the 2013 season. The second was from Army, Navy’s gridiron rival.

Palelei, the 6-foot, 290-pound Bishop Gorman High offensive lineman, opted to pick his own path and will sign today with Army on national signing day. He’s one of more than a dozen from the Las Vegas Valley signing with Division I schools.

“I looked at both schools seriously and came to the conclusion Army was the better fit for me,” he said.

There was no pressure from his brother or other family members to be the next Palelei at Navy. Ethan Palelei twice attended the Army-Navy football game when his brother played in the storied rivalry. Naturally, he was rooting for Navy.

“Yes, it does sound pretty cool. My brother played for Navy and I’m going to Army,” Palelei said. “My brother actually thought it was pretty funny. Everyone is just excited for me and the opportunity.”

The opportunity includes more than college football. Players are also part of the military, meaning they go through boot camp and and have an obligation to serve after graduation. Evan Palelei was a two-year starter for the Midshipmen and is serving in the Marines Corps as a second lieutenant.

National signing day, when verbal commitments become official after an intent letter is signed, has blossomed into a holiday for college football fans. Locally, with six-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman leading the way, Las Vegas players continue to be recruited by top schools.

Today, players will sign with powers such as Nebraska, Notre Dame and USC. Others will go to lower-division schools such as Idaho State or NAIA national champion Southern Oregon University.

We’ll track the signings all day. Send us your signing day photos on Twitter using the hashtag #sunstandout or #702hsfb.

On the dotted line

Here's a list of local players expected to sign letters of intent. Please note: This doesn't include the eight players committed to Southern Oregon or Division II schools.

Arbor View

Malik Noshi — Northern Arizona

Bishop Gorman

Danny Hong — Columbia

Jackson Perry — Dartmouth

Nicco Fertitta — Notre Dame

Alize Jones — Notre Dame

Jordan Ober — Nebraska

Nela Otokulo — Fresno State

Ethan Palelei — Army

Canyon Springs

Melvin Johnson — UNLV

Centennial

Zach Mays — Cornell

Cimarron-Memorial

Derek Morefield — Navy

Coronado

Justin Belknap — Arizona

Faith Lutheran

John Molchon — Boise State

Green Valley High

Carter Nielson — Weber State

Las Vegas High

Elias Miller — Weber State

Jacob Littlefield — Air Force

Liberty

Noah Jefferson — USC

John Groom Jr. — Georgetown

Moapa Valley

Zach Hymas — Weber State

Mojave

Ty Flanagan — Idaho State

Silverado

Justin Polu — UNLV

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21