BOOM! 2016 4-Star Linebacker Krys Barnes Commits To UCLA
Aug 30, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker Eric Kendricks (6) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA ramped up its 2016 football recruiting in a big way on Saturday, landing the commitment of 4-star inside linebacker Krys Barnes (Bakersfield, CA/Liberty). Barnes was offered a scholarship by UCLA on Saturday during his unofficial visit to Westwood and committed on the spot to new linebackers coach Scott White and the Bruins, who beat out the likes of LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and USC for Barnes’s commitment despite not formally offering Barnes until today.
Four-star LB Krys Barnes has committed to #UCLA. Visited campus today.
— Edward Lewis (@Edward__Lewis) March 14, 2015
Very nice pickup for #UCLA landing Barnes, LB MVP at recent Opening Regional and has looked great playing for Ground Zero all spring
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) March 14, 2015
A good start for new linebacker coach Scott White to get a top 10 middle linebacker in Krys Barnes.
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) March 14, 2015
UCLA Bruins
Barnes is a pure inside linebacker with outstanding athleticism who can cover sideline-to-sideline. He has been one of the rising stars of the spring 7-on-7 camp season and is one of the top players in an incredible crop of 2016 linebacker recruits out West. He developed a close relationship with ace recruiter Scott White in a short amount of time since White’s hiring and it is that relationship with White that was the biggest reason why Barnes will be a Bruin as of 2016.
The news of Barnes’s commitment broke not too long after the top inside linebacker in the country Lokeni Toailoa (Rialto, CA/Carter) announced that he would be committing next week, on March 21.
Rialto (Calif.) Carter LB Lokeni Toailoa Top 7, no order: Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington http://t.co/WYKhfZKXFn
— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) March 14, 2015
After naming his top seven, Rialto (Calif.) Carter LB Lokeni Toailoa will announce his decision on 3/21 http://t.co/WYKhfZKXFn
— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) March 14, 2015
With Toailoa thought to be heavily considering the Bruins at this time, it cannot hurt UCLA’s chances with Toailoa that Barnes, who is Toailoa’s 7-on-7 teammate from Team Ground Zero, chose the Bruins a week in advance of Toailoa’s commitment. Bruin fans will be ardently hoping that Toailoa commits to UCLA next weekend and confirms that the Bash Brothers of the 7-on-7 circuit take their act to Westwood in 2016.
Four-star linebacker Lokeni Toailoa, who announced his top seven today, is rocking the #UCLA wristband today. pic.twitter.com/Hv05NtYmHz
— Edward Lewis (@Edward__Lewis) March 14, 2015
Welcome to Westwood, Krys! Congratulations to you on being the first domino to fall in what is shaping up to be a truly epic linebacker class for UCLA in 2016.