After a long and turbulent recruiting process, former Oaks Christian wide receiver Jordan Payton is firmly ingrained at UCLA and ready to contribute as a freshman. At 6’2 200, Payton has the size, speed and play-making ability to warrant the interest he received. It is top flight recruits like Payton that exemplify the new Jim Mora era in Westwood.

1. Matt Barkley (QB/USC, Senior)

USC senior quarterback Matt Barkley enters the 2012 season as the clear front runner for the Heisman Trophy. With an arsenal of playmakers at his disposal, including receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, Barkley should put up big numbers on his way to leading the Trojans to the national title.

Heading into his fourth season under center, Barkley has the experience and leadership needed to lead USC back to greatness. Barring injury, expect Matt Barkley to take home the Heisman, win a national title and be the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The talent pool of student-athletes spread throughout California’s high schools is no mystery. However, West Coast preps seem to lack the national exposure granted to other sports recruits in U.S. States throughout the South and Midwest, such as Texas, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida.

Supremely talented UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley should make quite a splash in the Pac-12 this upcoming season. After redshirting last season, the former five-star recruit from Chandler High in Arizona is primed to lead the Bruins to glory.

Everyone knows about Taft. You just don’t know.

Next time you’re in the Los Angeles region, take a close look into the sky beyond the haze of smog that blankets much of the area some days. If you look closely, what appears to be a bridge has slowly begun to form above the path from William Howard Taft High School to the University of Southern California campus.

The Tim Tebow Experience has descended upon Southern California this week for a little off-season mechanics tweaking. According to ESPN, the Denver Broncos starting quarterback has sought the expertise of UCLA quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone to improve his craft.

Tebow and Mazzone have worked together before and have maintained a relationship for some time. The main objective is to develop Tim into a more efficient passer. Accomplishing this feat is no small task and definitely remains a work in progress.

Ranking high school recruits is not an exact science. Well, if you compare ranking high school recruits to how NFL players are scrutinized, it isn’t very scientific. On the morning of April 27th 2012, Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay would have helped determine the fate of the first 32 picks of the NFL Draft. Similarly, the likes of ESPN, Rivals.com and Scout.com compile rankings and analysis of high school recruits. The particular ranking of a recruit can significantly improve or reduce that player’s stock and be the difference between Division I, DII, DIII or less.

The lists for preseason Heisman candidates are in full circulation. The process of eliminating candidates has already begun, thus we have assembled the “CLA Sports Preseason Heisman Top 5 List.”