Kylie Fitts Commits to UCLA, Is Eddie Vanderdoes Next?

Four star defensive end recruit Kylie Fitts (Redlands, Calif.) announced his commitment to UCLA on Tuesday night, the eve of National Signing Day. Fitts was a former verbal pledge to USC who broke his commitment last month after a public spat with the Trojans.

Fitts opened his recruitment to a host of schools, including Trojan rivals UCLA and Notre Dame. Fellow Pac-12 Conference member Utah was also in the mix after Fitts paid a visit to the Utes’ Salt Lake City campus last week. But in a major coup sure to add fire to the Crosstown Showdown, Fitts opted for the move to Westwood.

Before he goes, he told ESPN LA:

"“I went to USC to talk with [USC coach Lane] Kiffin,” he said. “I said I’m [past] everything [that led to the decommitment] and let’s move on. We got down to the basics of how USC was recruiting me. I kind of knew right after that that USC is a great place, but UCLA is better.”"

UCLA is better. Those are words sure to resonate in a rich rivalry that lay dormant for many years. UCLA’s win in last November’s installment promised a new era in the rivalry, and the 2013 recruiting season has only intensified it.

And it could only get more heated on National Signing Day. The Bruins are pursuing another former USC verbal commit, five star defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes. The highly touted Placer, Calif. native is scheduled to announce his commitment at 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday. In a conference call on FOX Sports Next Tuesday night, Scout.com analyst Brandon Huffman said Vanderdoes might not have a decision until the 23^rd hour.

In addition to UCLA and USC, Vanderdoes is entertaining offers from Notre Dame, Alabama and Washington. There’s been speculation Fitts’ commitment would foreshadow Vanderdoes’ decision. On the FOX Sports call, Fitts was evasive when asked of contacting Vanderdoes in the next few hours.