California heads South for football recruits

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) Stricter academic standards at California forced coach Sonny Dykes to broaden his search for recruits.

When Cal revealed its class of 24 recruits on national signing day Wednesday there was a decided southern flavor to the group. Seven of the recruits come from either Texas or the Southeast.

The raised academic standards are in response to a report issued last fall by a task force on academics formed after years of low graduation rates by football players and other athletes. Chancellor Nicholas Dirks accepted the recommendations from the task force, including making sure that the school only admits recruits it believes will graduate.

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CALIFORNIA

Top 25 Class: No

Best in class: Carlos Strickland, WR, Dallas.

Best of the rest: Russell Ude, DE, Atlanta; Lonny Powell, RB, Sacramento, California, Jaylinn Hawkins, ATH, Buena Park, California.

Late addition: Semisi Uluave, OL, Honolulu

One that got away: Keith Washington, CB, Prattville, Alabama.