[LeeCoUKFan]

Maka drawing attention on both sides of the ball

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

David Maka is talking to coaches from a couple of schools in the Pac-12 but it's an SEC school that has captured his attention.

Kentucky, UCLA and Utah are the schools in the most contact with the 6-foot-3, 315-pound two-way lineman from Tustin (Calif.).

One reason for their attention: Maka is one of the few college prospects available that's a pure center, but he's also hearing that schools like him as a defensive tackle.

In fact, it's UK's defensive line coach that has been recruiting him for the Wildcats.

"It's coach (Jimmy) Brumbaugh that I've been talking to," Maka said. "He's talked to me about the new staff, what they're doing and all that. I think it's a great opportunity. I just want to see what it's like."

Of course, Lexington is a long way from California. That distance is enough to scare some prospects off. Not Maka.

"I'll be fine with that," he said.

The way Maka speaks it's almost as though he considers himself a Wildcat already. He's not, and UK hasn't offered. But if that offer comes Maka knows what he would do.

"I'm going out there this weekend (on an official visit) and if they do offer I'll commit," he said. "They've told me they want me to come out there and see what it's like."

Maka does not have an offer from UCLA but earlier in the process he did pick up offers from Cal, Utah, San Diego State and Hawaii.

The three-star prospect is rated the No. 13 offensive center in the nation by Rivals.com.