ESPNU 150 Watch List TE Taylor McNamara of California is working with a short list of seven schools, with plans to further narrow his choices down to five finalists sometime next month. McNamara said he would take some officials this fall before making a decision.

McNamara's current short list includes Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Notre Dame, Oregon and Stanford. "It's not official yet but it could be pretty soon," McNamara said when asked whether these are the only schools still in the running.

McNamara is ranked the No. 2 TE in the country by 247Sports.com, and the No. 84 overall prospect by Rivals.com.

He also recently added UW as his 8th school.

This kid is a stud and it seems like JCF is just waiting on an offer from U$C so maybe we should focus on McNamara and Taubler.

Wow i thought that $c really liked him. We need to focus on him because JCF seems like he is going to commit once $c offers.

great!!!!!
He is rated higher than JCF on many sites. Hopefully Kline can make McNamara warm up to the idea of catching passes from him.

MoragaBear;511309 said:

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Right now, it's looking like a Cal-Stanford race, though that could change. I like Cal's chances where things stand right now.

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Nice. I literally had zero hopes of landing him until about an hour ago.

MoragaBear;511309 said:

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Right now, it's looking like a Cal-Stanford race, though that could change. I like Cal's chances where things stand right now.

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MB - where do things stand with Taubler? I saw that UCLA offered. Everything I've read seems to indicate that Cal would have an excellent shot at Taubler if they offer.

I know we have offers out to McNamara, JCF and Kourtzidis. I assume we are probably looking to take two TEs total in this class. If you wait to see what happens to the three offers, you might lose what looks like a lead with Taubler. Any thoughts of trying to lock up Taubler, and then hoping to get one of the other three?

MoragaBear;511309 said:

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Right now, it's looking like a Cal-Stanford race, though that could change. I like Cal's chances where things stand right now.

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hey MB.....can you give us your 2 cents on McNamara vs. JCF please?... Scout rates JCF higher while Scout rates McNamara higher... McNamara seems to have more offers yet Scout seems to think he has more areas of improvement. Now I do know that these rating are not written in stone and I don't take them for gospil, but I would love to know some comparative basics...like who is the better blocker?...who is the better receiving TE?...which guy has the bigger frame to fill out?....why does Scout think JCF will end up on the line?.. ( I think you already debunked that one around the time we were talking about Taubler). Both are 6'5" and within 10-15 lbs....which one do you think fits in with Cal better?...even though SC hasn't offered JCF yet, it seems like he wants an offer from them...kind of weird the So Cal kid wants to go north and the Nor Cal kid wants to go south...thanks for any info you wish to share.....

They're a far cry from MB's opinion CF2, but these might tide you over until he can weigh in:

http://wearesc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164345
http://wearesc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164371

gosh i love a good top 8.







Wake me when he has a top 3

OldBlue1999;511320 said:

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They're a far cry from MB's opinion CF2, but these might tide you over until he can weigh in:

http://wearesc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164345
http://wearesc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164371

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Interesting that the same USC poster (zapster) chimes in on both threads saying that he was at Stanford Nike and that Taubler was the best looking TE there. I would really like to get this kid locked up considering he's so high on Cal. It would allow the staff to go hard after JCF and Mac knowing that they already have a good TE in their pocket.

OldBlue1999;511320 said:

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They're a far cry from MB's opinion CF2, but these might tide you over until he can weigh in:

http://wearesc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164345
http://wearesc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164371

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thanks...I think MB is ignoring me tonight....LOL

Ive seen them all, and I have to say im not sold on Mac. His parents hired a marketing agency for goodness sakes, didnt i read that some where. Mac is a Big kid that can catch balls, but is a WR in a TE body. Doesnt have the explosiveness or blocking ability/intensity. Very highly marketed, and seems to be a favorite everywhere, but.... I dont know. Where I come from, a TE needs to be able to mix it up and kick ass, Mac is a wr playing te. Cope and Taubler seem to be the real deal. All three are great kids. Cope has lost a lot of weight, down to 235 i was told, taubler is close to 250. Cope and taubler are going to get more offers, especially with 7-9 of the top TE already committing. I saw the UCLA offer to taubler, and knowing that neuheisel was at the camp all day, we may not like weasel, but he is fairly knowledgeable about talent(just doesnt know how to use it) Taubler has said cal number 1 the whole time, but getting back to my points on the recruiting game, if you dont show the love to the ones that love you, they may not be there when you want them.

zman, i agree that taubler is still not getting the attention he should from cal. of course that's due to a variety of reasons including him being injured and not being able to put up the numbers and wow the analysts and coaches or whatever it is. however, i do also agree on the point that mcnamara seems to be more of a catching/hands type of TE...does taubler block well? i havent been able to find any highlights of him

touchdownbears43;511328 said:

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gosh i love a good top 8.


Wake me when he has a top 3

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Gotta love a good quip. Im with touchdown bears, when a kid has to NARROW his list to 8, theres a kid thats playing the game, and not speaking his mind. I like a kid that says "hey guys, I like a, b, and maybe c, but a is my top choice" Like dating, you are playing the field, or SERIOUS. Cal needs kids that are "SERIOUS" and not playing a game to see who is prettier on any given day.

beeasyed;511396 said:

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zman, i agree that taubler is still not getting the attention he should from cal. of course that's due to a variety of reasons including him being injured and not being able to put up the numbers and wow the analysts and coaches or whatever it is. however, i do also agree on the point that mcnamara seems to be more of a catching/hands type of TE...does taubler block well? i havent been able to find any highlights of him

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Heard he played OT for 3-4 games when Stephon McCray was injured last year. Also the injury was pneumonia during the season. That may be why there is not much jr film, heck I wouldnt want film of me out there playing with pneumonia. My opinion from the start, Taubler was the sleeper. After soph season, he was well ahead of mac AND jcf, and lost some "marketing hype' his jr. year. Cal had a shoe-in, sleeper kind of guy who in all aspects is as good as,(or better, depending who you talk too) now after getting some visibility, might not be a shoe in? I know its early but we have to lock up kids like shaq, kline, etc, but we also need to lock up our shoe ins too like taubler, bruce, etc.

wow, very pleased to see McNamara seriously considering us. Also very surprised to not see SC on that "short" list of 8 schools.

Mcnamara or JCF + Taubler will be an excellent TE haul in this class. Hope it happens.

Zman713;511417 said:

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Gotta love a good quip. Im with touchdown bears, when a kid has to NARROW his list to 8, theres a kid thats playing the game, and not speaking his mind. I like a kid that says "hey guys, I like a, b, and maybe c, but a is my top choice" Like dating, you are playing the field, or SERIOUS. Cal needs kids that are "SERIOUS" and not playing a game to see who is prettier on any given day.

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So you're saying you don't want kids like Keenan Allen, Chris McCain, and Gabe King who, according to your logic, were just playing the game? You must really hate Desean Jackson for the way he played games with just about everyone before signing with Cal at the last second.
I guess we should also try to get rid of Kam Jackson, Joel Wilis, and Brandon Bigelow as they were 'SERIOUS" about the Huskies for months before their change of heart took place.

What a short-sighted, uneducated view of recruiting. This is the biggest decision these kids have made in their entire lives. To judge a kid for using due-diligence is beyond ridiculous. It's not as if this kid is playing games with the coaches, reporters stick a mic in his face and he answers the questions.

[qoute]i agree that taubler is still not getting the attention he should from cal.

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I didnt know you were in the offices with the cal coaches.

Holmoephobic;511437 said:

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So you're saying you don't want kids like Keenan Allen, Chris McCain, and Gabe King who, according to your logic, were just playing the game? You must really hate Desean Jackson for the way he played games with just about everyone before signing with Cal at the last second.
I guess we should also try to get rid of Kam Jackson, Joel Wilis, and Brandon Bigelow as they were 'SERIOUS" about the Huskies for months before their change of heart took place.

What a short-sighted, uneducated view of recruiting. This is the biggest decision these kids have made in their entire lives. To judge a kid for using due-diligence is beyond ridiculous. It's not as if this kid is playing games with the coaches, reporters stick a mic in his face and he answers the questions.

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very well said! obviously we, as fans, want these kids to choose and choose quickly. it doesn't work like that, and i guarantee the recruits don't give a sh*t what the fans want in the midst of the biggest decision of their young lives.

and really, isn't recruiting more fun and exciting due to the anticipation and unpredictability? a late addition or unexpected suprise are that much more enjoyable. there's a flip side to that coin obviously (ask UCLA), but i'll take the peaks and valleys since it makes the reward that much more satisfying.

Holmoephobic;511437 said:

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So you're saying you don't want kids like Keenan Allen, Chris McCain, and Gabe King who,[COLOR="Red"]No, thats not what I was saying. I can see how you might interpret it that way, but its not what I was saying at all. Understandable jump, but a jump nonetheless[/COLOR] according to your logic,[COLOR="red"]Again, not my logic, your misinterpretation of what you incorrectly PERCEIVED my logic to be[/COLOR] were just playing the game? You must really hate Desean Jackson [COLOR="Red"]NO, I dont hate Desean Jackson, you pick out specifics to try and disprove my point, where I was speaking in GENERAL TERMS. ANyone can pick out a SPECIFIC point to offer a counter to a general overview, thats the easy part[/COLOR]

What a short-sighted, uneducated view of recruiting.[COLOR="red"]Again, taking an INCORRECT view of what I was actually saying, although, an understandable jump[/COLOR] This is the biggest decision these kids have made in their entire lives. [COLOR="Red"]Yes it is[/COLOR] To judge a kid[COLOR="red"]Didnt judge a kid, I used one particular OBVIOUS Choice that proved my GENERALIZATION, Similar to what you are doing my friend[/COLOR] for using due-diligence is beyond ridiculous.[COLOR="red"]Whats ridiculous is thinking DUE DILIGENCE begins WHEN someone gets an offer. If a young player hasnt done a significant amount of due diligence prior to receiving the offer, shame on him[/COLOR] .

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Didnt mean to touch off a sour note for you. I guess I just expect MORE from kids than you do. Higher the expectations, higher the results(in general, but IM sure you can find a specific example to contradict, so can i) I used MAC the TE as a specific to proove my point, but was focusing on the overall picture. I would rather coaches be spending 80-90% of their time on a kid that has shown interest, has DONE PROACTIVE due diligence, and has a general knowledge and understanding of what he wants, and expresses that knowledge productively. Im not a fan of sound bites, marketing and hype over reality, and would rather have kids that WANT to be at cal, not one that has to be CONVINCED over 20 other schools. Difference of opinion, and as you so aptly pointed out, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS to disproove almost EVERY rule, but dont misquote my point and your misunderstanding of my logic.(although I accept some of the blame for possibly presenting it in a form that would cause you to MISUNDERSTAND what i said.)

Bearbacker99;511441 said:

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[qoute]i agree that taubler is still not getting the attention he should from cal.

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I didnt know you were in the offices with the cal coaches.

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us fans are in the habit of making judgments and opinions that obviously can't be taken seriously beyond the realm of this board.

and i strongly believe that taubler would be a great addition, whether the staff ends up offering him or not

with that logic, then what does it matter until he makes an oral commitment or he signs? You're not even "engaged" until there is an oral...

mbBear;511520 said:

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with that logic, then what does it matter until he makes an oral commitment or he signs? You're not even "engaged" until there is an oral...

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at some schools you can get oral for money.

mbBear;511520 said:

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with that logic, then what does it matter until he makes an oral commitment or he signs? [COLOR="Red"]You're not even "engaged" until there is oral.[/COLOR]..

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Thats what I told my first girlfriend...................35 years ago. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

MoragaBear;511642 said:

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McNamara's a big kid who will probably be more of a receiving tight end than blocker, though he has the size to be a good blocker, too. I imagine he'll catch more balls at the next level.

JCF is a bigger, thicker guy, who has the frame to be a better blocker but he has pretty solid hands, too. I really doubt he'll end up on the OL. Most TE's with good hands won't agree to it if they've got a lot of options.

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Thank you sir....