Three top-rated football prospects made their college choices at The Opening, a premier summer showcase event for recruits in Beaverton, Oregon.
Kahlil McKenzie (Clayton Valley Charter), Stephen Johnson (San Leandro) and Isaiah Langley (Foothill) -- who all hail from the NCS -- announced their decision on ESPNU.
Defensive tackle McKenzie chose Tennessee over Arizona. "I'll be spending the next few years at Tennessee," said McKenzie on Thursday to a national TV audience.
McKenzie's father, Reggie, and his uncle, Raleigh, both played for the Vols.
McKenzie, the West's No. 1 prospect, was named the defensive line MVP of The Opening, having a stellar week and making a big push to be named the nation's top prospect in the 2015 class.
The big lineman is a consensus, five-star recruit and one of the top 10 defensive tackles nationally in the 2015 recruiting class in the 247sports.com composite recruiting rankings. In making the announcement McKenzie said, "I think that I can really do something special" at Tennessee.
"It's just a second home," McKenzie said after putting on an orange Tennessee bucket hat. "Everything about it I loved, from top to bottom. Everything about it was the perfect fit for me."
The 6-foot-4, 340-pound McKenzie recently transferred from De La Salle High to Clayton Valley Charter.
His father, Reggie McKenzie, was a four-year letterman for Tennessee and totaled 108 tackles in 43 games, including an 89-stop senior season in 1984. The Los Angeles Raiders picked him in the 10th round of the 1985 draft, and he went on to start 40 games in four seasons for the franchise.
After spending a year as a graduate assistant with the Vols in 1993, McKenzie worked in the Green Bay Packers organization for more than a decade as a scout and eventually the director of player personnel and earned two Super Bowl rings (1996 and 2011). He was Green Bay's director of football operations in 2012 when the Raiders named him their general manager.
Reggie's twin brother, Raleigh McKenzie, was at Tennessee at the same time (1981-84) and played in 36 games as an offensive lineman. The Washington Redskins took him in the 11th round of the 1985 draft. He spent 10 seasons with the franchise, winning two Super Bowl rings.
He finished his 16-year NFL career with the Packers in 2000 after stints with the Eagles and Chargers. Raleigh was hired into the Raiders organization in 2012 after coaching high school football in Virginia.
SOMETHING BRUIN: San Leandro's Stephen Johnson also made the call at The Opening, picking UCLA.
The 5-foot-11, 188-pound Johnson, rated as a three-star athlete by ESPN.com, also announced his decision during a telecast on ESPNU.
"I will be committing to UCLA," he said, showing a UCLA hat. He said UCLA has talked about using him as a slot receiver/defensive back.
"I plan to play kick returner as well," he said, showing why he is a listed as an athlete. He said he does not have a preference as far as position. Johnson also considered Arizona State, Oregon and Cal.
Johnson played quarterback for San Leandro last season, and was named the West Alameda County Offensive Player of the Year. He completed 49 of 94 pass attempts for 939 yards and six touchdowns, and also rushed for 728 yards and 13 touchdowns.
FIGHT ON: Defensive back Isaiah Langley (Foothill) -- a four-star prospect by multiple recruiting services -- verbally committed to the Cardinal and gold of the Trojans on ESPNU.
Langley had narrowed his choices to five Pac-12 schools -- UCLA, USC, Oregon, Cal and Arizona State -- before choosing USC.
"It's a great education and at the same time playing for a prestigious program," Langley said on the ESPNU telecast.
The 6-foot and 164-pound prospect was considered an athlete during the recruiting process. Langley said he intends to focus on cornerback at USC. He also played wide receiver during his junior season at Foothill.
"I'm fully committed to playing corner," Langley said. "If they want to put the rock in my hand I can do that, too, but very little. I'm a defensive player.
Added the Trojan-to-be: "I just fell in love with the campus. Ever since then, I knew this was where I wanted to be."
