The Latest With 5-Star DL Aydin Breland

Aydin Breland is the top-ranked defensive lineman on the West Coast and a decision may not be far off.

The No. 1 Mater Dei Monarchs took home their first win of the Frank McManus era Friday Night in the Inland Empire, putting away the Corona Centennial Huskies 28-14. 

Their defense played a big role in securing the win, as their defensive front, led by Aydin Breland, was getting after Husan Longstreet all night.

Aydin Breland in on the tackle. He’s fired up pic.twitter.com/Lxsiyn42t5

— Max Torres (@mtorressports) August 19, 2023

Ducks Digest caught up with the 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman for the latest in his recruitment, as there's been buzz he could be narrowing his list of suitors.

"Just time to make a decision," Breland said. "Me and my family have come down to make it a top four. It's gonna drop pretty soon."

Breland has been a highly-coveted recruit for much of his high school career, but it doesn't appear that there's a clear finish line in sight just yet.

"Still up in the air," he said of a decision timeline. "We're still trying to figure out logistics and the place and everything else that goes into that. That's all with that."

The Under Armour All-American was all over the country this summer, taking official visits to Oregon, Georgia, Texas A&M and Miami.

But will he get back on the road before making his commitment?

"As of right now there's no visits scheduled. I don't plan on taking any more," Breland said. "If something does come up, it comes up. But as of right now there's nothing planned."

At this point in his process, he's heard every pitch in the book from schools across the country. When it comes time to pick his future home, he knows what criteria that place will need to check.

"I'm going to tell you everything that I tell to everybody. Genuine family feel, great coaching staff, NFL development. Just a place I can call home. Just a place that I love. I love the fans, the fans love me. I love the school, I feel that it's a perfect fit, it's just everything is just perfect."

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In the past year, Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks have gradually picked up buzz and gained ground with the five-star.

"As of right now they just the home on the West Coast," Breland said of his interest in the Ducks. "They'd just be my home if I were to stay on the West coast. Like I always said I love Tosh Lupoi, I love Dan Lanning and I love Coach Tony (Tuioti). That coaching staff they have is legit."

Kirby Smart and the back-to-back national champion Bulldogs are also heavily involved, as Breland donned a Georgia headband to match his Mater Dei red on Friday.

"That's a national championship contending team all the time," he said of the preseason No. 1 program in the country. "They're really consistent at putting out D-linemen to the league and I've been to Athens a couple times and I love it there."

Like any recruitment, there's been highs and lows for Breland, who peeled back on the curtain on what it's been like to go through the process mentally.

"There's ups and downs like it is in life," he said. "It's a rollercoaster. As of right now, as we start to cut it down it relieves more stress. It's definitely relieving in a way because we're getting closer to that decision, closer to finding that place that you call home."

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