UCLA Football Recruiting: 2016 Offensive Big Board 1.0

Nov 7, 2015; Corvallis, OR, USA; UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte (18) picks up a first down on a pass play during the first half in a game against Oregon State at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

TIGHT ENDS

After the turbulent and short-lived UCLA career of former 5-star tight end Chris Clark, the Bruins have a need to fill out the tight end depth chart. To that end, the Bruins went some way towards filling that need when they brought in 3-star tight end Jordan Wilson (Nashville, TN/Montgomery Bell Academy). An imposing figure at 6-feet-5-inches and 215-pounds with a mind-boggling 7-foot wingspan, Wilson projects to be a dangerous pass-catching weapon in UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone‘s offense at the “Y”-slot receiving position that Joseph Fauria and Thomas Duarte have played to such devastating effect.

In addition to Wilson, the Bruins have focused on two remaining tight end recruits who have the ability to be dominant defensive linemen in college but are intent on playing tight end in college: 4-star Devin Asiasi (Concord, CA/De La Salle) and 3-star Thaddeus Moss (Charlotte, NC/Mallard Creek).

Asiasi visited UCLA this past weekend with close friend and UCLA lean Boss Tagaloa, a 4-star nose tackle who also hails from De La Salle. The Bruins are able and willing to sell Asiasi on the Bruins’ need for a large, in-line tight end after the (comical) departure of the mercurial Clark from the program, but it remains to be seen how competitive UCLA will be for Asiasi, with Alabama and USC both firmly in the picture for him as well and Asiasi focused on being the only in-line tight end a school takes in its class.

Moss is the son of legendary wide receiver Randy Moss, but is much thicker than his father and won’t be the same speedy game breaker. However, Thaddeus definitely got Randy’s hops and nose for the ball, pulling off a series of highlight-reel catches as part of a senior season that established Thaddeus as a tremendous football player in his own right. UCLA is very much in the picture to land Moss and will be battling NC State and Arizona State until Signing Day.

Next: Offensive Line