California DB Chacho Ulloa Updates Recruitment Status, Discusses Top 3

Arguably one of the best "football names" of the 2016 class, Corona, California, safety Chacho Ulloa also happens to be one of the class' hungriest, most driven players. And it's looking like three schools are in the hunt for his services.

Ulloa, a 3-star safety from Centennial High School, said Notre Dame, Stanford and Arizona State are currently the three schools highest on his list. The order of rank changes weekly, but Stanford will have its opportunity to take over the top spot this weekend, as he plans on visiting the campus for the Friday Night Lights camp.

Ulloa said the upcoming visit will be his second to Stanford. He was there in May for a junior day.

"This time around, I'm going just to interact with the coaches and hang out with the players," Ulloa said. "I've hung out with the players from Notre Dame and Arizona State. I haven't really done that with Stanford.

"I just want to have a good vibe with the coaches, the players and the city."

"

I had a dream of my commitment 

— Chacho Ulloa (@_Chacho13_) July 23, 2015"

There are three good schools on the table for the athlete no one knows as "Cesar." Ulloa's been known as Chacho all his life. It's a nickname given to him by his grandfather, short for "Muchacho."

"I get that every time I meet somebody," he said. "Everybody knows me as Chacho. With most people, if someone asked for Cesar, they would say, 'I don't know who that is.'"

Ulloa was supposed to make a return trip to Arizona State last week, but traffic as a result of a collapsed bridge of California's Interstate 10 forced him and his father to turn around a couple of hours into the trip.

With 18 offers, Ulloa is a versatile, blue-collar safety with decent speed and an ability to make plays either as a safety or an outside linebacker, if necessary. At 6'0" and 190 pounds, Ulloa can play strong safety, free safety or the nickel position at the next level.

Ulloa's nose for the football, however, may be the primary reason why coaches are drawn to him. He has been a part of 19 turnovers in two varsity seasons, whether it was a forced fumble, a caused fumble or an interception.

"I can get in the blocks and bang with the big boys, or I can cover and make sure no one passes me," said Ulloa, a self-proclaimed student of the game. "I'm an all-around player. All the coaches say I'm always around the ball.

"I just love football. If you tell me something once or twice, I'm going to correct it. Football is my life."

Ulloa, who had 59 tackles and three interceptions as a junior, said he plans on taking official visits to his top three. He will take in Notre Dame the weekend of Oct. 16 for the game against USC. He'll visit Arizona State for an Oct. 29 Thursday game against Oregon. He'll take in Stanford the weekend of Nov. 20 for the game against Cal.

Ulloa said his other two official visits are still in the air. If UCLA offers, he said he may make the Bruins his fourth visit. Ulloa and UCLA have been in discussion, but no offer has been extended as of yet. Schools like Michigan State and Vanderbilt also are on the watch list.

Attending a school with a good academic reputation is important to Ulloa, as he is looking to reach maximum potential on and off the football field. Ulloa said he wants to major in business and also has interest in the field of marketing.

"I'd want football to last another 20 years if I could, but I know that's not a reality," he said. "If it only lasts my college years, so be it. I want to feel secure after football. I want to have a successful life and be set with a good degree from whichever school I pick."

Academics are important to Ulloa. Feeling comfortable on campus is just as vital.

"I want to feel welcomed," he said. "It's one thing to have good friendships with coaches, but coaches could come and go. Having good relationships with the players is mostly what I'm looking at. They're the ones I know I'll be with the next four years."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles