Notre Dame DE target Oluwole Betiku reopens recruitment

If Oluwole Betiku visits Notre Dame in November as planned, he will no longer be making the trip as a UCLA commit.

The highly touted defensive end recruit withdrew his verbal commitment to the Bruins on Friday. Betiku, who had been committed to UCLA since August, tweeted the news.

"At this time I have decided to open up my recruiting," he tweeted. "It is in my best interest to take my time with the recruiting process and weigh my options carefully. It's a lifetime decision and I pray God guides me to make the best decision."

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end started traveling the country for official visits earlier this month. He has made trips to Florida State and Texas A&M and has tentative plans to visit Notre Dame (Nov. 14) and Florida (Nov. 28). UCLA and USC will both likely remain as contenders in Betiku's commitment.

Notre Dame associate head coach Mike Denbrock visited Betiku's school earlier this week. Betiku teams with Irish safety/wide receiver target Brandon Burton at Gardena (Calif.) Serra.

"He’s straight-up with me," Betiku said of Denbrock in July. "He tells me how it is over there. I’m going to have a chance to play early if I come over there because they need pass rushers.”

Through eight games of his senior season, Betiku recorded 44 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks. He notched 59 tackles, 24 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks in his first season of football as a junior.

247Sports slates Betiku as a five-star prospect, the No. 1 weakside defensive and No. 6 overall in the 2016 class. Rivals rates him as a four-star recruit, the No. 4 strongside defensive end and No. 36 regardless of position.