It's a great story, the best that sports has to offer: a young man doing everything he can to achieve a dream.

With hard work, Fabian Moreau of Western High in Broward County, Florida, took himself from a 5-8, 145-lb. third string halfback as a sophomore to a 6-0 185-pounder who scampered for 20 touchdowns and over 2000 all-purpose yards as a senior.

Two weeks to go until National Signing Day, Wednesday February 1st.

6-8 275-lb. defensive end Arik Armstead has announced he'll wait until NSD to make a commitment after taking a weekend visit to Auburn and amidst rumors he'd enrolled early at Cal. Notre Dame and Oregon are the other schools he's considering. His decision to wait bodes well for the Webfoots. They're currrently in third, and this gives their hurry-up recruiting offense more time to close.

Azzi Shittu, another premier defensive tackle prospect originally committed to Cal, is rethinking his commitment after the Tosh Lupoi defection to Washington. He tweeted today that he'd like to get in touch with the Oregon coaches, increasing the chances the Ducks may be able to close strong at defensive tackle in what is otherwise a tremendous recruiting year. Shittu is an outstanding student and has also shown interest in Stanford, among others.

Trey Williams and DaVonte Harris aren't visiting. Both look like they're headed to Texas A&M. Receiver Thomas Johnson, a burner from Mesquite, Texas, visited Oregon last weekend. He goes to College Station this weekend but looks like he's leaning strongly to the Ducks, a game breaker who'd be a terrific fit in the Oregon passing game with Bennett or Mariota slinging the rock.

The Ducks will try to round out their 25-man recruiting class with versatile athletes like Bryan Harper and Damariay Drew, while adding at least one more offensive linemen out of several possibilities.

Recruiting websites give Corey Whitaker three stars, but the recruiting websites don't coach for the Oregon Ducks. Watch his highlight tape below and count more pancakes than a Saturday morning at IHOP. Whitaker, a 6-5, 275-lb. left tackle from Vista High in Murrieta, California, is agile and athletic, just the way Steve Greatwood likes them. He stays on a block and a has a touch of the nasty streak that makes Tyler Johnstone and Andre Y such great prospects next year after redshirting in 2011.

Recruiting takes the nerves of a hold'em player stealing a pot with eight-deuce offsuit and the closing skills of Alec Baldwin in "Glengarry Glen Ross."

Duck coaches earned their coffee last year with two colossal coups in the final few days before Signing Day. Seemingly out of nowhere they landed Jake Fisher out of Michigan, a tight end destined for offensive tackle who played in 12 games as a true freshman, and the biggest 5-star slam dunk of Signing Day, stealing The Black Mamba from the Trojans backyard.

Photo right: In the PAC-12, first place is a trip to Pasadena. Third place means you lose your job.

Talent matters, and it matters much more than the fans of aspiring programs would care to admit. Champion Alabama had the number one rated recruiting classes in the country in 2008 and 2009. The Crimson Tide assembled a death star defense comprised of 4 and 5-stars who were mean and agile, then unleased them on North Texas and Georgia Southern on the way to a 12-1 record, squashing them like minor planets in a solar system they ruled with an iron cybernetic fist.

Photo left: National title teams are built at the line of scrimmage, and nothing's more vital than a big, physical tackle who can anchor a defensive line. 6-8, 285-lb. Arik Armstead is that kind of player (maxpreps.com photo).

Thomas Johnson, wide receiver

Dallas Skyline High (14-1, state semi-finals)

6-0, 180

4.4 40, 415-lb. squat

senior stats: 59 receptions, 1,077 yds, 13 tds, plus 4 touchdowns rushing

UnderArmour All-American, 4-star recruit, rated #35 in ESPN150, 5th-best receiver prospect by rivals.com.

Jitterbug, juke or jet: With the ball in his hands, Thomas Johnson is one of the most dynamic receiver prospects in the country (dallassouthnews.org photo).

Like love, recruiting is a battlefield.

There are skirmishes and small victories. There are losses and attrition, days you give ground, days you take it.

Sometimes, it's an ugly and grim business, bereft of glory or hope.

Something wondrous that way goes: Gifted high school All-American safety Shaquille Thompson joined the California Bears yesterday, and he took two of the West's prime recruits with him (goldenbearlair.com photo).