Xavier Su’a-Filo Forgoes Senior Season; Enters NFL Draft
By Rick Timmons
Dec 31, 2013; El Paso, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins mascot Joe Bruin during the second quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2013 Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA’s best offensive lineman announced Saturday via Facebook that he is ready to move on with his career and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. His presence on the line has been a game-changing one, and has saved Brett Hundley countless times. The projected third round pick from Pleasant Grove, UT said that though he will be leaving UCLA, he is a “#BRUIN4LIFE”. While his presence will be sorley missed, this is a wonderful opportunity for a younger player to step up and prove himself. Filling in for Su’a-Filo may not mean filling his shoes, but thats a tough thing to do. His announcement read:
AFTER MUCH PRAYER AND DISCUSSION WITH MY FAMILY AND COACHES. I HAVE DECIDED TO FOREGO MY SENIOR YEAR AT UCLA AND MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR THE 2014 NFL DRAFT.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO THANK UCLA FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION HERE AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A STUDENT ATHLETE. BEING ABLE TO ENJOY THE CAMPUS AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS, AND GETTING TO INTERACT WITH FELLOW STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF, AND MY FOOTBALL FAMILY HAVE BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
I WANT TO THANK COACH MORA FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF HIS TEAM THE LAST TWO YEARS, I’D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY POSITION COACH ADRIAN KLEMM, COACH NOEL MAZZONE, COACH ALOSI AND THE REST OF MY CURRENT COACHING STAFF FOR THEIR SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND FOR HELPING ME BECOME THE PLAYER THAT I AM TODAY. I’D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE PREVIOUS COACHING STAFF UNDER COACH NEUHEISEL FOR RECRUITING ME AND SHOWING ME WHAT A GREAT PLACE WESTWOOD IS AND HOW UCLA COULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR ME. I NEED TO RECOGNIZE MY TEAMMATES AND GIVE LOVE AND RESPECT TO THEM (ESPECIALLY MY BROTHERS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE), I WOULD NOT HAVE THE SUCCESS I HAVE HAD WITHOUT THEM.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE ALUMNI AND BOOSTERS AND FANS WHO HELP SUPPORT THE UCLA FOOTBALL PROGRAM ALSO THOSE IN THE MEDIA WHO HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT AND SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE ON MY BEHALF AND FOR TRUSTING ME AND THE DECISIONS I HAVE MADE , THEY MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HELPED ME HERE AT UCLA AND I APOLOGIZE IF I DONT NAME EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING, I AM PROUD TO BE A BRUIN!!
Still awaiting the announcement of Brett Hundley is nerve racking, but tune in to the Army Bowl on Saturday to hear the nations top all purpose back, Joe Mixon, announce where he will be attending college. Mixon has narrowed his list down to UCLA, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma. In other recruiting news, UCLA has landed commitments from two four-star linebackers in Zach Whitley (Who de-committed from Alabama to commit to UCLA) and Dwight Williams. Stay tuned for more on the Bruin Revolution.