Royal High’s Fien Says He Will Attend UCLA

After a discussion with UCLA quarterback Tommy Maddox, Ryan Fien of Royal High in Simi Valley said Monday he will recant an unwritten commitment he gave Texas and sign a letter of intent with the Bruins on Wednesday.

Fien, the Southern Section Division II player of the year last season, gave Texas an unwritten commitment Jan. 20, but regained interest in UCLA after Maddox said Friday he will make himself available for this year’s NFL draft.

“I called (Maddox) and he helped me out quite a bit with a lot of good advice,” Fien said. “I’m very relieved, and I feel very good about my decision. There’s no reason for me to go to school so far away when there’s such a good opportunity just down the road.”

Fien passed for 4,542 yards and 50 touchdowns in three seasons at Royal.

NCAA rules prohibit UCLA Coach Terry Donahue from commenting on a player until a letter of intent has been received by UCLA.

Randy Rodgers, the Longhorns’ recruiting director, said Monday that he was not informed of Fien’s decision to attend UCLA.

Although Fien was arrested as a minor in possession of alcohol during his visit to Austin, he said the arrest did not play a role in his decision to attend UCLA. Maddox’s departure left UCLA with only two returning quarterbacks. Sophomore Wayne Cook of Newbury Park took fewer than a dozen snaps last season and Rob Walker, a freshman from Austin, Tex., was redshirted.

Also Monday, linebacker Abdul McCullough of El Camino High in San Diego, who announced in late December that he would attend UCLA but then changed his mind, said that he will sign a letter of intent to UCLA on Wednesday.