BOOM! 5-Star Linebacker Keisean Lucier-South Commits to UCLA

November 22, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) is brought down by the UCLA Bruins during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On Thursday afternoon, all-world uber-recruit Keisean Lucier-South made it clear that his mind was made up and that he would be committing to his chosen school shortly. In Go Joe Bruin’s most recent Defensive Recruiting Big Board, we took this as a sign that Lucier-South would be choosing UCLA, his long-time leader.

48 hours later, on Saturday afternoon before the Bruins’ shellacking of cross-town rival USC, the 5-star linebacker and pass-rusher extraordinaire from Orange County was true to his word and told the world via his Twitter account exactly which school had won the race for his services: it was indeed UCLA.

Lucier-South has been UCLA’s top linebacker target in the 2015 class since Signing Day 2014 elapsed, eliciting constant comparisons as an edge-rusher to his idol Anthony Barr.

He’s a freakish talent who is perhaps the best pure pass-rusher nationally in this recruiting class.

Scout.com’s West Coast recruiting insider Greg Biggins had this to say about Lucier-South’s talents, again making the oft-cited Barr comparison for Lucier-South: “Lucier-South will draw a lot of Anthony Barr/Dion Jordan comparisons over the next two years for his size, athleticism and pure pass rushing skills. At 6-4, 200 pounds, he needs to put on some weight but has plenty of time to do so. He has a great first step and the speed to beat a tackle before he can even get out of his stance. Has great closing speed as well and is learning how to play in space in case he’s used as an OLB in a 3-4.”

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At UCLA, Lucier-South will indeed be used primarily as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but much like Barr, he won’t have all the responsibilities a traditional outside linebacker normally has. Instead, he will have one overriding purpose in UCLA’s defense: seek and destroy the opposing quarterback. For fulfilling that goal, UCLA defensive coordinator (and KLS’s primary recruiter) Jeff Ulbrich could not have found anyone better suited to do so in his defense from 2015 on. Bruins fans should be beyond ecstatic about such a coveted and talented prospect choosing to develop his craft on the college level at UCLA.

Welcome to Westwood, Keisean!