UCLA Football Recruiting: Another Look At The 2015 Recruiting Class

2015 proved to be a solid recruiting year for the Bruins as they wrangled the nation’s #12 class (according to 247Sprots.com). The efforts of UCLA football recruiting saw them sign a lot of players to fill positional needs, but they also landed several top recruits, including the #1 quarterback, tight end, running back and center in the country. But that is just the beginning.

Credit the #BruinRevolution.

So here is a look back at the class UCLA hauled in for National Signing Day 2015, by position:

Player, position, Hometown (High School), Height, Weight, 247Sports ranking

Sep 26, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; St. John Bosco Braves quarterback Josh Rosen (3) makes a pass while being pressured by Bishop Gorman Gaels defensive end Haskell Garrett (16) during a game at Fertitta Field.Bishop Gorman won the game 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterbacks (1):

Josh Rosen, QB, Bellflower, CA (St. John Bosco), 6’4″, 205 lbs., * * * * *

Running Backs (2):

Soso Jamabo, RB, Plano, TX (West Plano), 6’2″, 210 lbs., * * * * *

Bolu Olorunfunmi, RB, Clovis, CA (North Clovis), 5’11”, 210 lbs., * * *

Feb 4, 2015; Plano, TX, USA; SoSo Jamabo talks to the media after announcing he will be attending UCLA at a press conference at Plano West High School. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins are full of talented running backs, especially the Pac-12 leading rusher Paul Perkins, and they just got better with the addition of Jamabo and Olorunfunmi. It is yet to be seen how these two in-coming freshmen do among the UCLA running backs, but right now it is safe to say the future looks bright.

Olorunfunmi is a freight train in the making. Not only does he have great speed, but he can bust through the line with ferocity. Though he may be a project, he should be a force under the guidance of RB coach Kennedy Polamalu.

As for Jamabo, there is no denying he has the tools to come in compete for a back-up spot, the question here is if he will be allowed to enroll at UCLA (which seems very likely) after a run-in with the law a few weeks ago. Still, legal troubles aside, Jamabo is a big back that looks to come in and start crushing people the second he steps onto Spaulding Field.

Receivers/Tight Ends (2):

Cordell Broadus, WR, Las Vegas, NV (Bishop Gorman), 6’2″, 195 lbs., * * * *

Chris Clark, TE, Avon, CT (Avon Old Farms), 6’6″, 247 lbs. * * * *

Feb 4, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Recording artist Snoop Dogg stands beside his son Cordell Broadus who announced his commitment to UCLA during a press conference at Bishop Gorman High School. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins missed out on a few receivers but landed two guys that have some talent of their own. Though UCLA will have to do without previously committed LJ Reed and Ryan Newsome, the Bruins have some talent as they bring in the #1 tight end in the nation as well as the 4-star son of the Doggfather.

The Bruins started National Signing Day off with a bang as they landed Connecticut’s own Chris Clark. He is the TE the Bruins have been in desperate need for since Joseph Fauria left the Bruins. Though UCLA has had a phenomenal TE/Y-receiver in Thomas Duarte, Clark adds depth as well as being a more traditional TE, which will helps the overall offensive game.

Though Broadus is the only official WR UCLA landed on signing day, he is already making his presence felt, at least from a hip-hop perspective. Broadus, the son of legendary rap icon Snoop Dogg decided to take his talents to Westwood where he should do very well and get a chance to play sooner than later in offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone‘s spread offense which utilizes several receivers.

Offensive Line (5):

Zach Bateman, OT, Costa Mesa, Ca (Orange Coast College), 6’7″, 320 lbs., * * *

Tevita Halalilo, OG, Moreno Valley, CA (Rancho Verde), 6’4″, 340 lbs., * * *

Andre James, OT, Herriman, UT (Herriman), 6’4″, 278 lbs., * * * *

Fred Ulu-Perry, C, Honolulu, HI (St. Louis), 6’2″, 295 lbs., * * * *

Josh Wariboko, OG, Oklahoma City, OK (Casady School), 6’3″, 315 lbs., * * * *

UCLA Bruins /

UCLA Bruins

The offensive line is one of two position groups that UCLA loaded up with not just bodies, but talented bodies. UCLA literally recruited an entirely new line on signing day capturing 2 tackles, 2 guards and a center. Well to be more specific, the #1 center in the country.

Fred Ulu-Perry could be the savior for the Bruins at center after senior Jake Brendel (a Rimington Trophy candidate) graduates next year. He is a solid lineman, he has great lateral movement and he is strong. The Bruins also get James and Wariboko who are both the #3 players in their region at their position. With their set of skills, these future Bruins could compete for a back-up spot in 2015.

But let us not forget about Halalilo and Bateman who will also add depth to the line. Bateman already has a head start as he enrolled in January and participated in Spring Practice. Though he needs some time to develop, Bateman should be able to participate this fall.

Defensive Line (1):

Rick Wade, DE, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (Santa Margarita C.), 6’5″, 230 lbs., * * *

Though UCLA loaded up at other positions, the D-line was one that did not land as many players as the rest of the class. Though UCLA is thin at the DL, they got a fantastic commit from Wade who is big, quick and can flat out hit. He should do fine among the UCLA defensive linemen and could vie for playing time in the fall.

Linebackers (2):

Keisean Lucier-South, OLB, Orange, CA (Lutheran), 6’4″, 211 lbs., * * * * *

Josh Woods, OLB, Upland, CA (Upland), 6’2″, 210 lbs., * * * *

The Bruins lost out on Roquan Smith but still had a solid class with Lucier-South and Woods. Woods was another early enrollee who participated in Spring Practice. Already set-up with a fantastic set of skills, Woods fit in nicely with the Bruin linebackers. Still, with all the talent in front of him, Woods still needs to earn a spot (most likely as a back-up) but looks like he should be a solid contributor to the LBs.

Lucier-South is a name you need to remember. He was the #1 OLB in California and the overall #4 OLB in the nation. When UCLA landed him, just hours before UCLA’s 38-20 victory over USC, the Bruin faithful rejoiced as they would once again have an Anthony Barr-like ass rusher. “Linebacker U”, indeed.

#UCLA VIDEO: Woods on Coming in Early - Apr. 25 -- Linebacker Josh Woods should be a senior in high school,... http://t.co/ayrMTSkyqT
— UCLA Bruins on Scout (@UCLAonScout) April 25, 2015

Defensive Backs (6):

Dechaun Holiday, CB, San Marcos, CA (Mission Hills), 6’3″, 195 lbs., * * * *

Stephen Johnson III, CB, San Leandro, CA (San Leandro), 5’10”, 187 lbs., * * * *

William Lockett, CB, Manvel, TX (Manvel), 6’0″, 182 lbs., * * *

Nathan Meadors, S, San Bernardino, CA (San Gorgonio), 6’1″, 194 lbs., * * *

Colin Samuel, CB, Long Beach, CA (Long Beach Poly), 6’2″, 175 lbs., * * * *

Octavius Spencer, CB, Monrovia, CA (Monrovia), 6’1″, 170 lbs., * * *

This is the other position group that loaded up on National Signing Day. Six defensive backs committed to the Bruins on National Signing Day showing that UCLA Football recruiting was once again amongst the top classes in the nation.

Where to begin with this position group? All of them have great skills and for those that are a bit more raw, should flourish under new defensive coordinator Tom Bradley. It is yet unknown if UCLA will rely on the nickel back formation as much as they did in 2014, but if they do, they are loaded. Aside from the full roster they already have, these six future Bruins will make the UCLA secondary even more dangerous, especially if Holiday and Samuel can get in on some playing time this fall.