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BOOM! Defensive Back Colin Samuel Commits to UCLA

By Michael Hanna

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Nov 22, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA received a major shot in the arm to its defensive back recruiting for the 2015 class Tuesday night, landing the commitment of 24/7 Composite 3-star cornerback Colin Samuel (Long Beach, CA/Poly).

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Samuel is UCLA’s second commit at the position, after Texas CB Will Lockett (Manvel, TX/Manvel) pledged to the Bruins back in August. Go Joe Bruin identified Samuel as a priority target for the Bruins in our most recent Defensive Recruiting Big Board and mentioned then that UCLA was the clear leader to secure his commitment sooner rather than later.

Samuel, who is a 6’3″, long-armed, fluid athlete with tremendous hips, fits the exact physical profile that UCLA defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin typically looks for in the players he recruits at cornerback, so it’s no surprise that once Samuel’s senior film went out to coaches nationwide, Martin locked onto the Long Beach Poly star as someone he wanted to coach for the next four years.

After being somewhat lightly recruited for most of his senior season, Samuel’s stock exploded nationally after the release of his senior film. Oklahoma, Michigan, and Mississippi State were among the schools besides UCLA that offered him within a week’s span a month ago. He actually happens to be the bookend corner opposite 5-star phenom Biggie Marshall in the Long Beach Poly defensive backfield but is a solid recruit in his own right and has recently garnered 4-star ratings from both Scout and Rivals.

With a commitment from 3-star safety Nathan Meadors (San Bernardino, CA/San Gorgonio) still imminent and high-priority targets DeChaun Holiday (San Marcos, CA/Mission Hills) and Marshall still up for grabs, UCLA seems set to endure a wild finish to defensive back recruiting in the run up to Signing Day in February. Welcome to Westwood, Colin!