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This fall, the Wyoming Valley Conference. Next fall, the West Coast.

One of the area’s top football players has picked his school ahead of his senior season as Wyoming Valley West’s Chris Bleich has given a verbal commitment to play at UCLA.

The 6-foot-6 offensive tackle said he was looking to forge a new path by choosing the Bruins.

“Football was something that I was never interested in growing up, but 8th grade year decided to give it a shot,” Bleich wrote on Twitter. “Never did I expect to end up here.

“Going into my sophomore year I told my dad I want to play football where no one has (before) from this valley. And today I can say I kept my word to my dad.”

Bleich gained national attention from top schools throughout that sophomore year. He spent a semester down at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., during which time he pledged to Penn State.

Earlier this spring, Bleich said he made his decision too quickly and wanted to look into other schools, which has given him the opportunity to check out different areas of the country.

UCLA has a notable Pennsylvania tie on coach Jim Mora’s staff — the Bruins’ defensive coordinator is Tom Bradley, who held that position for years at Penn State.

Bleich is rated a three-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings as the No. 37 tackle recruit in the country for the 2018 signing class.

Under a new NCAA rule, he will be able to make it official and sign with the Bruins in December at the earliest.

“This has been a long and difficult road for me,” Bleich wrote. “I met a lot of great people in my life from the start of my freshman year and (I’m) still meeting great people as I prepare for my final year.”

Wyoming Valley West lineman Chris Bleich has verbally committed to UCLA.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_WVW-Bleich-1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Valley West lineman Chris Bleich has verbally committed to UCLA. John Erzar | Times Leader

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