Surprise Commitment

UCLA got a huge, and surprise, commitment from one of the top linebackers in the country. Eastlake high school linebacker / running back Tony Jefferson gave a verbal to the coaching staff last night.

Last year Jefferson had 88 tackles and 4 sacks while also rushing for 1,328 yards and 28 touchdowns on offense.

Tony had an impressive list of offers from BCS schools in the SEC, PAC-10, Big-10, ACC, Big-12, and Notre Dame. When UCLA is beating out Florida, USC, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Miami for a recruit, you got to feel a little excited

He was originally committed to Stanford, but switched to the Bruins.

Jefferson will likely come in as either a strong safety or an outside linebacker. He is currently listed at 6'0" and 195 lbs. How much size he can add to that frame will swing him one way or another. In any case he has good speed, so he could be successful at either position.

(Photo Credit: Union Tribune)

Former ND TE Transfers to UCLA

The Bruins picked up another commit yesterday, this one coming from Notre Dame. Not the high school... the University. Tight End Joseph Fauria has decided to transfer to Westwood. He's a big target, standing in at 6'7", and a big pickup for the Bruins.

Fauria was originally recruited by UCLA last season, but ultimately chose the Fighting Irish over the Bruins. Now, the tables are reversed, and he's leaving Notre Dame to come back closer to home. The former Crespi standout will be eligible to suit up on Saturdays for the Bruins starting in 2010.

There were some rumors around why Joe decided to leave South Bend. Hopefully he wasn't an academic causality. I'm guessing that wasn't the case if he got into UCLA. One thing not in doubt was that the Irish were stacked deep at tight end. Even with some of the top talent in the country, Fauria was 2nd string and looking at some playing time in 2009. Why he decided to leave isn't entirely clear to me, but whatever the reason, I'm glad he chose Westwood as his new home.

Fauria is a much needed addition to the team. We lose Logan Paulsen and Ryan Moya after this season and depth at tight end could be a problem. Harkey has looked good, but Nate Chandler (who's bumped around from TE to OT) is an unknown quantity. At the very least, Fauria gives some depth and hopefully he can break out and give the Bruins a big target between the seems.

Earnest Thomas III

UCLA's recruiting efforts out of the state are paying off. On Wedensday, the Bruins picked up a verbal from Michigan Safety Earnest Thomas III. The kid is big, at 6'2" and 210 lbs. He could morph into an outside linebacker if he adds more weight to his frame, which I think he could without too much effort.

Even though the recruiting services only have him as a 3-star, Thomas had offers from a number big-time BCS programs. He was being pursued by Stanford, Missouri, Wisconsin, Penn State, and West Virginia. Ultimately he chose UCLA and one of the reasons may have been family members who live in the south land.

This commitment is a good sign for the program. UCLA has not had any kind of national presence in recent years and this recruiting season. Already this season, two of our five commitments are from outside of California and the three in-state commits are all from up North. It's cool to see us beating out a different set of schools instead of the same old PAC-10 and Mountain West schools that we battle every year. The Bruins are always going to get the bulk of their kids from Southern California but picking up some stars from other areas is encouraging.

From watching his video, he definitely looks like an aggressive, physical, hard hitting strong safety. He kind of reminds me of Horton.

Blessing in Disguise

You know, looking back at our season, it may have been a good thing that we finished 4-8. How so? Well, it gave our program two very important things. The first was an extra month that the coaches could focus on recruiting because they didn't have to spend any time on Bowl preparation. The second was the way it fired up Norm Chow. Chow wasn't required to do much recruiting as a part of his contract, but he went out there and hit the pavement hard. Both of those things lead to a stellar recruiting class. I doubt UCLA would have recruited as well if we had finished with a 6 or 7 win season. Sometimes you need to hit bottom before you can get back up to the top.

Grading the 2009 Recruiting Class

It's Rick Neuheisel's first full recruiting class. It has some punch, some prospects, and some pazaaz... but it's also missing some players; in particular at defensive tackle. However, At the end of the day, it will go down as a very good first effort considering our miserable 4-8 record last season.

Alright, let's had out some grades

Quarterback: A-

Richard Brehaut (QB)

The Bruins picked up a single signal caller in this class and he's a good one. Brehaut was wowed to Westwood by Norm Chow and he is anticipated to enroll early for spring practice. With the Bruins struggling at this position over the last few seasons, Brehaut has a chance to play as a true freshman. With KevingPrince added in the last class, the QB slot looks solid for the next few years.

Running Backs: B

Dalton Hilliard (RB)
Damien Thigpen (RB)

Jayson Allmond (FB)

Last year UCLA landed a stable of good running backs. So it wasn't surprising that this year's class was a bit small. Dalton Hillard probably has a long way to go if he wants to start and Allmond will likely fight for playing time behind Derrick Coleman as a FB. But these two add some solid depth. Damien Thigpen from Virginia was a nice pickup at the last minute. He probably has the best chance to see playing time among the class.

Tight Ends: A

Morrell Presley (TE)

Morrell Presly was one of the big recruiting wins for the staff this season. Not only is Presley considered the #1 tight end in the nation but he is also a recruiting win over Pete Carroll and the Trojans. When Presley committed to the Bruins, it sent some ripples through recruiting circles and sent a message across town.

I'm not sure if Presley will be a true tight end. He's tall and athletic and not very heavy, weighing in at paulty 213 his senior season at Carson. He may adapt into more of an H-back, lining up as a receiver at times. He reminds me of a J.J. Stokes type of player. Let's hope he can have a similar impact for the blue and gold.

The Bruins almost stole Billy Sanders from Miami but he switched back to the Hurricanes on signing day.

Wide Receivers: A-

Ricky Marvray (WR)
Randall Carroll (WR)

Another huge steal from USC was landing Randall Carroll. He should make an immediate impact in the receiver rotation and brings a lot of speed. Ricky doesn't appear to be immediate impact players but you never know when you'll find a diamond in the rough. This wasn't a position of need in this class, but it is great to see at least one play maker here.

Offensive Line: A-

Nik Abele (OT)
Xavier Su'a-Filo (OG)
Stan Hasiak (OG)

Greg Capella (OG)

Eddie Williams (OG) - JC

Ryan Taylor (OG) - JC

UCLA has some serious needs along the offensive line. So the coaching staff went and scoured the JC ranks to pick up some immediate help for next season. After picking up only three lineman in the last two classes, Palcic and Neuheisel really had no choice; the cupboard is bare right now. I'm not sure how far some of these transfers will go to fixing that problem, as JC players are always tough to evaluate. Eddie Williams got some looks from Colorado and Washington but the other players weren't heavily recruiting by BCS schools.

The good news is the staff won a number of recruiting battles at this position. The X-man, Xavier Su'a-Filo, was a very pleasant surprise signing. He is one of the top lineman in the country. Hasiak, who was originally committed to UCLA but changed his commit to Cal last month, came back to the Bruins after meeting with Norm Chow. A couple of losses were Joel Gray of Hebron High ( who decided to choose Texas Tech) and Michael Philip (who went to Oregon State).

Overall I'm pretty happy with this group. We got a few really good players, which is all we could expect considering that this year wasn't really full of good offensive lineman out west. At the same time we fill some immediate needs and build for the future.

Defensive Line: B-

Branden Warner (DT) - JC (not signed)

Keenan Graham (DE)

Iuta Tepa (DE)

After offensive line, defensive line was probably the position of biggest need. Especially at defensive tackle. With Brian Price expected to declare for the NFL draft after the 2009 season, there is virtually nobody there to fill his slot. Branden Warner will be able to play immediately, but UCLA needed some more bodies here. That will have to be priority #1 in the 2010 class.

The defensive ends were solid pickups. Graham is the considered the best player out of Nevada and Tepa was a good addition as well. Holmes and Jones were good pickups last season and it looks like we'll have some depth here in the next couple of seasons.

Linebackers: B

Todd Golper (LB)

Taniela Maka (LB)

Isaiah Bowens (LB)
Jared Koster (LB)

Told Golper was an early pickup for the Bruins and he looks to lead this group of linebackers. The other guys aren't super stars but could see time on the field. One interesting last minute switch was Jared Koster, who was originally signed with Colorado State. He came to UCLA on signing day based on an 11th hour offer.

Secondary: B

Stanjarivus McKay (S)

Marlon Pollard (DB)

Brandon Sermons (DB)

Sheldon Price (DB)

Alex Mascarenas (DB)

UCLA picked up another batch of defensive back this year, adding to the impressive list that was compiled in 2008. Some have been critical of adding so many players in the secondary, but I'm more forgiving. With nickle defenses becoming a big part of the college game and the inevitable injuries and transfers, you can never have too many corners on your roster.

There aren't any super stars in this group, like Rahim Moore last season, but they should add some good depth behind last years class. Marlon Pollard was a good victory for UCLA as they pulled him back to Westwood after he changed his commitment to Notre Dame. I could see him pushing for playing time.

Overall: A-

This class was good with a few deficiencies. The offensive line was addressed but the defensive line is still a problem and likely will be until some serious talent can be brought into the program. Overall, though, there are some key play makers in this group that will make some ESPN highlight reels in the future. In particular, UCLA got a much needed talent upgrade on offense.

Recruiting is a game of relationships. These days, coaches evaluate high school players when they are sophomores. When you have a new coaching staff, it takes them time to build those bridges. UCLA is obviously behind the curve right now, but in a few years when the current sophomores and juniors are ready to sign LOIs, the time spent will start paying dividends. I expect the 2011 recruiting class to be top notch.

The biggest win for UCLA this recruiting season wasn't the guys they signed but the guys they went after. In years past, UCLA didn't even compete for top talent. Coach Dorrell was content to let USC pick the creme of the crop and then go after the leftovers. This year, coach Neuheisel went after those blue chip recruits. He may have lost more battles than he won, but the very fact that UCLA was in there battling for these guys is a huge step forward.

The staff also didn't take "no" for answer. They fought hard for guys to the very end. I can't remember a season where UCLA signed so many guys who were originally committed to other schools. Obviously, the staff knew they were at a disadvantage getting a late start on recruiting, but they didn't let them slow them down.

I'm pretty high on UCLA recruiting right now. I think we have some positive momentum that makes for a very bright future for the Blue and Gold.

Final Scout.com ranking: 4th (1st PAC-10)
Final Rivals.com ranking: 14th (2nd PAC-10)

Recruiting Snapshot

Not a lot of recruiting news lately. Still, I put together my recruiting snapshot image for the 2009 class. Pretty easy to see the imbalance as the Bruins have six commits on defense and not a single one on offense. Click the image below to see it in full size and make sure you zoom in (the picture is pretty big)...

Bowens a Bruin

Isiah Bowens, an outside linebacker from Bishop Amat High School is the latest pledge for the Bruin's 2009 class. This puts UCLA to four commits for the next class and all of them are on defense. I'm pretty sure we'll see some offense commits soon after spring practice as our coaching staff completes the installation of Chow's scheme.

Here is a YouTube highlight reel of Bowens in action (#2). The video primarily shows him as a receiver but he'll likely lineup on defense for the blue and gold. Bowen isn't the biggest kid, just yet, at 6'3" and 220 lbs. I'm sure, by the time he gets to Spaulding field, he'll have added some more weight to the tall frame. He's a talented athlete that also plays baseball. Bowen's had two outstanding offers from SDSU and Texas A&M.

2009 Recruiting (Part 2)

Throughout this last week, a number of football recruits have stopped by Spalding field to watch the Bruins practice. Here is some background information on some of these recruits and some others that UCLA is planning to host this month.

Tate Forcier (QB) is the younger brother of red-shirt freshman Chris Forcier. He is generally considered the most talented of the three Forcier brothers (Chris' older brother just transfered to Stanford) with a good arm and elusive scrambling ability. Scout ranks him as the #10 quarterback nationally and gives these statistics from his junior campaign at Diego Scripps Ranch: rushed for 733 yards on 66 attempts and had six touchdowns; passed for 2,387 yards and 21 touchdowns with only five picks, for a 77% passer rating (164-for-213), which led San Diego County. He does not yet have an offer from the Bruins. His junior highlight video on YouTube is worth a watch.

Allan Bridgford (QB) is the starting quarterback for Mission Viejo High School. His teammate, Alex Mascarenas, has already committed to UCLA for next season. He is a classic pocket passer and stands tall at 6'4" . As a junior, Allan threw for 1,642 yards and 15 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions. He has offers from Stanford and Texas Tech but is still waiting on an offer from coaches Chow and Neuheisel.

Richard Brehaut (QB) from Rancho Cucamonga is another talented passer in a very deep 2009 class. ESPN has a good evaluation of Brehaut that is worth a read. They describe him as an accurate and intelligent passer. Decent mobility, tough, and someone who can throw fairly well on the run.

Byron Moore (S) is a great athlete out of Harbor City. Moore impressed some people last fall as he was named to next year's Army All American game. Moore was very impressed by his visit to Westwood this last week and he almost committed on the spot. He still wants to wait and continue the process, but UCLA is high on his list. He also has offers from Arizona and Colorado.

Michael Philipp (Ot) is a big, 6'4," 300-pound offensive line prospect from San Bernardino Arroyo Valley High School. Philip was an all-state underclass selection in 2007 and Scout ranks Michael as the #10 offensive tackle in the country. He has an impressive list of scholarship offers from pretty much every single PAC-10 school. His two older brothers play for the wildcats, so that could be a factor in his recruitment. He enjoyed a visit to Westwood back in February and coach Neuheisel seems very interested in him becoming a Bruin.

John Michael Davis (LB) is a smallish, but athletic line backer from Los Flores. He hasn't received many offers yet, with just one from New Mexico, but the Bruins have been pursuing him aggressively since last year.

Noel Beckles (DT) is a beast on the defensive line and this 6'2" tall 290 lb tackle would be a great pickup for the Bruins. Last season at Verbum Dei, he had 52 tackles, 13 for loss and five sacks.

2009 Recruiting (Part 1)

Last year at this time, the Bruins had seven verbal commits. Not just scrubs either, those commitments came from some dynamic prep players like Rahim Moore, EJ Woods, Damien Holmes and Anthony Dye. This year? Just three. Across town, USC has already snagged ten commits in the 2009 class and that includes one of the best players in the country in quarterback Matt Barkley. So what's the hold-up in Westwood? Well there are a number of reasons.

Part of the delay was that Neuhisel and Chow had to install a new offense for this season. Hot on the heels of that was the start of spring practice and getting this team together to work out the depth chart. Going back to January and February, they had to bust their butts just to keep the 2008 class together. All of that together meant that they couldn't really focus on recruiting the next class. It will take those offensive coaches a while to build up relationships with the 2009 class, but they're already starting to reach out to kids. Once Spring practice is over, I'm sure all the coaches will be out on the recruiting trail in full force.

Here are some of the prospects that UCLA is recruiting for next season. A number of these guys have received offers from the staff and many are rumored to be attending UCLA's spring practice this month.

Cierre Wood (RB) is one of the top prospects in the country at running back. Both Scout and Rivals have him rated #3 at the position and give him 5-stars. He has offers from a lot of big BCS schools like Nebraska, Florida, Notre Dame, and USC. A stellar prep athlete, he racked up over 1,400 yards last year on the ground and 17 rushing touchdowns. Add to that almost 600 receiving yards and another 7 receiving touchdowns and you can see why this kid is so highly coveted. He has a scheduled trip to South Bend this month and we could see him around Westwood this month as well. Wood is playing his prep ball up at Santa Clara High School in Oxnard. Here is a video highlight reel of Woods racking up over 300 yards in one game last season.

Manti Te'o (LB) from Hawii is another highly regarded lineback on UCLA's radar. He is strong, athletic and a force on defense. Checkout some spectacular highlights from his 2006 season where he plays both linebacker, running back, and special teams. A devout member of the LDS church, Te'o is considering a mission before attending college. He is strongly considering BYU, but he also has offers from USC, Notre Dame, Colorado, and Stanford.

Shaquelle Evans (WR) is considered one of the best receivers in the west and UCLA is recruiting him hard. Out of Inglewood high school, Evans was one of the standouts at the B2G Elite Football Program in 2007. He's seen his stock rise considerably this spring and he has already received offers from Notre Dame, USC, Oklahoma, and LSU to name a few. Evans has a quick first step and some pretty good top speed. He could be a good deep threat target for the Bruins. I can see him getting into the rotation early with UCLA's receiving corp losing some of it's top players over the next two seasons.

Tyler Gaffney (RB) out of San Diego Cathedral Catholic racked up 1,399 yards and 20 touchdowns last season to help lead his team to the CIF division III championship. He has a competing offer from Stanford, so you know he is a good student and someone the Bruins will value.

Aaron Murray (QB) attended the first day of practice and the Florida native has UCLA on his short list of schools. He has 52 scholarship offers from pretty much every major BCS program in the country, so it says something that he would fly across the country to meet with the staff.

Josh Nunes (QB) from Upland High School has had UCLA high on his list of colleges for a long time. This prototypical pocket passer is a smart player who has a quick release and makes good decisions. His stock has risen this spring and he has a lot of offers pouring in from the west coast. Nunes has visted Westwood a few times already but it doesn't look like coaches Chow and Neuheisel are going to make a quick decision on a quarterback for this '09 class.

Devon Kennard (DE) is a super-star talent from Arizona who has topped the scouting reports at that position in many of the recruiting services. The Bruins are competing for his services with USC, Texas, and many other top programs across the country. ESPN has a great review of Kennard. They describe him as highly productive and disruptive. He's explosive out of his stance and generates good power coming off the ball.

More to come later...

Another DB Commits

The Bruins, and coach Walker, got their 3rd commit of the season late Friday, in Mission Viejo defensive back, Alex Mascarenas. The 5' 10" 175lb junior has been a stand out player since his sophomore season. He has offers from both Arizona schools, Utah, and Colorado.

Over the last few seasons, UCLA has done a great job of building a bit of a pipeline into Mission Viejo high. That's significant because Orange County hadn't been a strong recruiting ground for the Bruins for a long time.

Alex is a great athlete who has excelled in his career at Mission Viejo. he was the only sophomore selected to the Pac-5 Division all-star team two seasons ago. He is also a starter for their baseball team.

(photo credit: LA Times)

Second 2009 Commit is a Good One

Todd Golper, a top-rated line backer from Arcadia High School, decided to commit to UCLA today. Golper joins Marlon Pollard in the Bruin's 2009 class. The two are a great start and it looks like Walker is picking up where he left off with this last recruiting class.

He's a big kid, weighing in at 225 already and standing tall at 6'1". He projects in at middle linebacker and UCLA could really use a strong leader on defense for the future. I could see Todd filling that role in the a few years.

Scout current gives Golper a 4-star rating and he is considered one of the top-10 players at his position nationally. Here is a snipet from his profile:

Golper is excellent in pass coverage, witness his slew of interceptions last fall, and he's a very good and solid tackler. A classic middle linebacker, Golper has a high football IQ, great leadership skills and is a gamer.

Rivals hasn't given him a ranking yet, but it is still early and I'm sure Todd will be highly regarded by that service as well.

You can check out Todd's My Space page and see some pictures and images of him in action. I thought it was funny that under his interests he lists: "Watching USC lose". Ah yes, he is a true blue Bruin!

Golpher attended UCLA's abbreviated Junior day today. There might be some more recruiting news coming out of today's meet-and-greet, so stay tuned...

(Photo Credit: Todd Golper MySpace)

Grading the 2008 Recruiting Class

Let's take a look at this 2008 recruiting class, position by position, and hand out some grades.

Quarterbacks: B+

Nick Crissman (QB)
Kevin Craft (QB) JC
Kevin Prince (QB)

Nick Crissman's stock went up this year, despite the fact that he missed a big chunk of his senior season due to injury. He has gained a good reputation as a tough competitor and someone who has a lot of heart and guts. There are some knocks on his mechanics (namely that he doesn't release the ball high enough) but I'm sure, under Norm Chow, this kid can develop into a pretty darn good quarterback. He has been a consistent performer in high school and he strikes me as smart and intelligent player. He won't be able to play very early, with two seniors ahead of him, but after a year or two of development in UCLA's system, he could be a serious candidate to start.

Kevin Craft was a surprise addition to UCLA's 2008 class. He was nowhere on our radar during the season, but Norm Chow and Neuheisel snatched him up from Mt. SAC. Craft is a nice stop-gap quarterback because the Bruins will be sorely lacking experience in 2009 after Olson and Cowan graduate. Craft will be a 23 (going on 24) year old senior by then and have a year of experience under Chow. I'm not expecting him to set the world on fire, but we've learned the hard way that you can never have too many quarterbacks. Craft is a solid find and a smart move by Neuheisel to fill a position of need.

Kevin Prince was a very late addition and I don't know if he factors in much. If he goes on his mission then UCLA will have to recruit him all over again in a couple of years. He is also coming off a bad knee injury and surgery, so he may gray shirt and not enroll until 2009. With so many unknowns in Prince's future status, I can't say if he really helps this class.

Running Backs: A

Milton Knox (RB)
Johnathan Franklin (RB)
Aundre Dean (RB)
Derrick Coleman (FB)

This was a very contentious position for the Bruins. They were locked in a number of recruiting battles with some high profile schools like Notre Dame, Florida, USC, and Oregon. At the end of the day, UCLA came away with a very impressive group of tail backs.

Milton Knox has garnered comparisons to Maurice Drew because of his short stature and explosive running style. He has great vision and can change direction on a dime. Milton leaves Birmigham High School, and the Los Angeles city section, with a host of rushing titles. I'm really high on Knox and I think UCLA got a very good running back with this kid. He was heavily courted by Notre Dame and Florida, so you know he projects well to the college level.

Aundre Dean is a power running back who also brings some good speed. Dean is a real gamer and I think this kid could contribute right away. His final decision to attend UCLA came right down to the wire, but Neuheisel was able to swing Dean back into the fold by signing day... a real coup considering that many had written Dean off months earlier. It will be awesome to watch the one-two punch that Dean and Knox bring with their contrasting styles.

Johnathan Franklin is a great athlete and this kid was all over the field at the high school level. He projects in at either running back or safety and he definitely has a the talent to play either position. Derrick Coleman was recruited as a full back but he is a strong and powerful runner in his own right. In Chow's offense, he could see a lot more touches and passes than the full back received in Dorrell's system.

Tight Ends: C

Cory Harkey (TE)

Harkey is the only tight end to commit to UCLA in 2008. I don't think he is someone to get too excited about. He looks like a solid guy and someone who, given time, could develop into a contributer on offense. He doesn't bring any of the "wow" factor like Marcedes Lewis did back in 2002. The Bruins got a very good prospect, Nate Chandler, in the 2007 class. So this wasn't an area of need for the team. I'm sure coach Neuheisel will look for some more prospects to fill this position in 2009.

Wide Receivers: B-

Jerry Johnon (WR)
Antwon Mourta (WR)
Nelson Rosario (WR)

This is an area where many Bruin fans will lament over "what could have been". Kemonte Bateman was one of the first casualties for this class and an unfortunate loss for the Blue and Gold. It was well publicized that he was going to be a difficult one to get past admissions and I'm sure that was a factor in his decision to choose ASU over UCLA. Kevan Walker, DeWayne Walker's son, was also a late defection. He wasn't that highly rated, but being a coach's son you know he has a great football IQ. He ended up at Oregon State, so he'll get a chance to go against his Dad's defense sometime in the next few years.

There are no super-stars in this group, though Rosario could emerge as a key impact player. I think the Bruins may have found a real gem in this kid who is a giant target with a humongous wing span. He stands at 6' 6" and he was an elite jumper at the national level in track and field. He'll be an ideal red zone target for Bruin quarterbacks.

Offensive Line: D+

Jeff Baca (OG)
Connor Bradford (OT)

OK, so not everything is peaches in this class. The offensive line was a real let down. Not to say that all the players are bad, they aren't, but the small number of commits and the lack of overall talent was a big disappointment. What makes this hurt even worse is that the Bruins really have a glaring need in this category.

What's kind of scary is that UCLA didn't pick up many guys in the 2007 class either. Only one kid committed last season, Mike Harris, and he wasn't that highly rated. The Bruins did pick up a number of guys in the 2006 class, including Micah Kia and Nick Ekbatani, but the other guys in that class (including Jake Dean, Sean Sheller, and Sonny Tevaga) haven't stepped up as serious candidates for starting time.

The absolute #1 priority in the 2009 recruiting class has to be offensive lineman, just to make up for the last two classes.

Defensive Line: B+

Dantone Jones (DE)
Damien Holmes (DE)

UCLA picks up two exciting defensive ends in Jones and Holmes. Both are strong and athletic and the Bruins definitely need a talent upgrade at this position. There is really no heir apparent to Bruce Davis, so Jones or Holmes could step into the rotation as true freshman. Jones is a big bruiser and he brings some much needed size to the line. Holmes is very athletic and explosive and he'll be tough for opposing tackles to contain on a pass rush.

What could have made this score better was a top-notch defensive tackle. The recruiting staff didn't pick one up before the season started and with the coaching shuffle, UCLA missed out on getting some big players.

Linebackers: B

Patrick Larimore (LB)
Donovan Carter (LB)
Sean Westgate (LB)

The first two linebackers UCLA picked up in this class are a very nice duo of bigger, more athletic guys. The Bruin defense has been undersized in recent years and both of these guys come in, as true freshman, weighting closer to 230 lbs. That is definitely a step in the right direction. Sean Westgate is a bit on the smallish side and he may end up moving into the secondary as a hard-hitting strong safety. What he lacks in size, he more than makes up for it in aggression and smarts.

What could have made this group even better was Uona Kavienga, who ended up signing with USC. He had a strong performance in the Under Armor All American game and his stock was through the roof right before LOI were signed. The Bruins really missed out on a good one.

Secondary: A+

Rahim Moore (S)
E.J. Woods (S)
Anthony Dye (DB)
Aaron Hester (DB)

I don't think the Bruins could have asked for a better secondary than what they got in this class. Rahim Moore is a huge impact player for this team at the safety spot. He had an outstanding effort at the Army All American game and I could see him getting into the rotation as a true freshman. His tag team partner, E.J. Woods, is another highly regarded player. These two should carry on the tradition of UCLA as "Safety-U" for the next four seasons.

The defensive backs, Anthony Dye and Aaron Hester, are also great pickups for the Bruins. I don't know if either will see playing time really early but both are talented, quick, and intelligent players. When you factor in Courtney Viney, form the 2007 class, you have a threesome of defensive backs that should form an outstanding nickel package for years to come. All of this with Coach Walker teaching and developing these guys ala Alteraun Verner. It is very exciting.

Overall: B+

When you consider all the staff changes that occurred this off-season, it is impressive that Coach Neuheisel managed to pull out the class that he did. Unfortunately, a few key players jumped ship, and I can't give this class an A because of that. I also wanted to see much more in terms of offensive lineman and that didn't materialize.

At the end of the day, however, the Bruins got a very good class. It is definitely loaded more on the defensive side than on offense but there are quality guys on both sides of the ball. Make no mistakes about it, this is a group of players that are a big step-up over prior classes in terms of size and athleticism. With the coaching dream team recruiting hard for next season, expect even more talented kids to come to Westwood in 2009.

In terms of Rivals and Scout rankings, the Bruins fared very well:

Scout: #9
Rivals: #13

Here is the final recruiting "snap shot" that lists the final rankings by player and the class as a whole.


Click on the image and make sure you 'zoom in' to see the full thing.

Kavienga A Trojan?

Scott Wolf is reporting that former Bruin commit Uona Kavienga will sign with USC after he announces it live on FSN Prime Ticket at 6pm. Based on Wolf's past track record with rumors... the kid's a lock to BYU.


I guess we'll have to wait and see... even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Neuheisel Press Conference at 3pm

Coach Neuheisel will have a press conference at 3pm to talk about the recruiting class. You can watch it live on CSTV with a paid subscription.

National Signing Day

Today is the big day for college recruiting and while there are usually very few surprises, there might be a twist or turn as they day unfolds. The last few hold-outs for UCLA are Milton Knox, Datone Jones, and Hamani Stevens. All three are expected to sign with UCLA but you can never be 100% sure until that letter of intent gets faxed over to Neuheisel's office. Milton Knox won't likely announce his decision until later tonight. Prime Ticket will have a show covering the local recruiting at 6:00 pm PST and it is anticipated that Knox will publicly announce his decision at that time.

On the recruiting front, the Bruins picked up another quarterback last night in Kevin Prince. He was leaning toward UCLA this past summer but he ended up switching his commitment to Washington. I guess with the addition of Norm Chow to the staff, the Bruin Dream Team was too good an opportunity to pass up. So the Crespi High signal caller will be Westwood bound. The only question is when? He may go on a Mormon mission and not enroll for another two years. He is still recovering from reconstructive knee surgery after tearing his ACL during the season; so a gray shirt is another possibility with him not enrolling until January 2009 (and thus not counting toward UCLA's 2008 total count).

I'll have more on Signing day later.... stay tuned!

Lean Mean Dean Machine

Aundre Dean confirmed all the rumors this week by re-committing to UCLA on Thursday night. Dean will always have a special distinction on Bruin Roar because the very first post on this blog was about his original verbal commitment to former coach Dorrell. This comes on the heals of Dean be named to the Parade All American team.

In other recruiting news: Hammani Stevens is leaning toward UCLA again. Stevens had committed to UCLA back in the summer but he quickly backed away from that after one day. He would be a great addition to the team because offensive line is a position of considerable need. Another former commit, Uona Kaveinga is also rumored to be back in talks with UCLA. He changed his commitment to BYU recently, but the high profile linebacker is looking to maybe change that back to the blue and gold.

There is only a few more days until letters of intent (LOI) are signed. The coaching staff has been pushing hard to shore up this class while still seeking out other high profile players. It remains to be seen if any last minute surprises will happen on February 6th, but if anyone can pull a rabit out of his hat, it is Rick Neuheisel.

Parade All Americans

The official list comes out this Sunday, but a few UCLA commits (well... possible commits) are going to get the honor. Parade magazine names 58 kids to their All American list and it is one of the oldest and most distinguished awards given to high school football players.

Milton Knox added the Parade distinction to the long list of honors he has received this off season. He was also named City Section player of the year after setting the all-time leading rusher and scorer marks as a senior. Knox is taking a trip to Notre Dame this weekend and his final decision on where he will be play should come very soon.

Aundre Dean was given the honor for an outstanding season at Katy High School in Texas. He helped lead his team to their 5th straight state championship this past season. Dean racked up nearly 2500 yards and scored 26 touchdowns for the Tigers. Dean still has UCLA high on his list but hasn't made his commitment 100% official.

If both end up at UCLA, which I think they will, then the Bruins will have a very dynamic running back duo for the next four years.

Air Craft

Kevin Craft, a highly regarded juco quarterback, has given a verbal commitment to the Bruins. He was thought to be a lock to SMU (He was following June Jones from Hawaii) but apparently Norm Chow and Rick Neuheisel convinced him to come to Westwood. Craft is 22 years old and he has two years of eligibility remaining. He'll add some depth to the quarterback position that will lose two seniors after the 2008 season.

Craft is coming to UCLA from Mt. San Antonio College where he was the California Junior College Player of the year. He completed 60% of his passes while throwing for 4,231 yards and 44 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions. He played his high school ball down in San Diego and he spent a season at San Diego State University. His father, Tom Craft, was the coach for the Aztecs when Kevin committed. When Tom was fired, the younger Craft followed his Dad to Mt. SAC.

Craft could be a good substitute at QB for the next two years. If we, as Bruin fans, learned anything this past season, its that you can't have two many experienced quarterbacks. In the 2009 year, he could have a shot at starting. At that time, he'll be one of the only quarterbacks who has some on-field experience at the collegiate level.

I'm not going to get too excited about Craft until we see him in practice. He was given 5-stars by Scout, but that doesn't mean a whole lot for juco guys. Rivals only gives him 3-stars but they do put him on their juco top-100. He only had a few schools on his radar (Hawii, SMU, and UCLA) this year and, when coming out of high school, he signed with San Diego State. Not exactly an impressive list, but maybe this kid has just flown under the radar. His numbers at Mt. SAC and in high school were very impressive. At the very least, I think he'll be an adequate backup and he could play his senior year.

(photo credit: AP)

Bruins Lose a Good One

Everyone was saying that UCLA might lose a guy or two (or three) from this 2008 recruiting class. It looks like Uona Kaveinga is the first causality. The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Saturday night that Kaveinga had given a verbal commitment to BYU over the weekend. Bruin Report Online has also confirmed that story.

Kaveinga was the highest rated LB in the class and he just came off a great performance in the Under Armor All American Bowl. He had USC, UCLA, and BYU pushing hard for him and rumors had been swirling for weeks that he could de-commit from the Bruins. It is a tough loss for the Bruin but at least he went out of conference. Kaveinga is a member of the LDS church and that likely sealed the deal with the Cougars.

Zebrie Sanders

Here's a little piece of news for you recruitnicks out there. Zebrie Sanders, a 4-star offensive lineman, might be seriously considering UCLA again. That's because his two other favorites, Florida and Georgia, are officially out of scholarships.

If you look at the Bruin's 2008 class, you'll see that it could desperately use some skilled offensive lineman. Hammani Stevens (C) and Vaughn Dotsy (OT) are both high on UCLA. Jonathan Martin (OT) was also considering the Bruins but now that he has been admitted to Stanford, we are out of the running. That was about it. Sanders was also considering the Bruins at one point. However everyone said he was a lock for Florida (with Georgia as his backup) and UCLA was pretty much out of the running

But he may have waited too long. According to the AJC, when Ricky Barnum and Matt Patchan committed to Florida that filled their allocation for lineman. The Gators coaches called him up this week and said that they no longer had a scholarship for him. Georgia also has a full class, so now Sanders is back on the free market.

His father says that UCLA and Florida State are likely the leaders,

“He may take an official visit to FSU; he may take an official to UCLA,” Vincent Sanders said. “He’s going to go where they want him.”

I can't speak for Rick Neuheisel but I definitely want Sanders at UCLA. He would be a huge pickup for the Bruins in an area that is in desperate need of talent. Now that the Bruins have a O-line coach in Palcic, maybe this can be his first big recruit.

Scout rates Sanders as a 4-star offensive tackle ranked 26th in the nation. Rivals also gives him 4 stars and ranks him as the 18th best offensive tackle in the country. Sanders played in the Under Armor All American Bowl earlier this month and is considered one of the best offensive lineman in the 2008 recruiting class.