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UCLA Football Recruiting: The Final 2016 Offensive Big Board

By Michael Hanna

Nov 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) passes the ball during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. UCLA won 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) passes the ball during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. UCLA won 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 30, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; UCLA Bruins offensive linemen line up against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; Charlottesville, VA, USA; UCLA Bruins offensive linemen line up against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

OFFENSIVE LINE

After bringing in the top-rated offensive line class in the nation in 2015, UCLA probably thought it would be able to take it easy with offensive line recruiting in this cycle. However, as we saw time and time again during the 2015 football season, the trenches are where football games are won and lost.

With ongoing upheaval on the line after the departures of Jake Brendel (graduation), Fred Ulu-Perry (transfer), Caleb Benenoch (draft), and Alex Redmond (draft), the Bruins need to reload with offensive line talent now as much as ever. To that end, in addition to the recent pickup of Texas transfer Jake Raulerson, UCLA has secured the commitments of 3-star guard Michael Alves (San Diego, CA/St. Augustine) and 3-star offensive tackle Alex Akingbulu (Harbor City, CA/Narbonne).

Alves is a pure road-grading guard who plays the game with bad intentions. He looks to physically dominate at the point of attack and grind the person he’s blocking into the ground.

Akingbulu, on the other hand, is a pure tackle prospect who’s dripping with physical upside. At a towering 6-foot-6, he has long arms and incredible bend. However, he is going to need to gain a lot of weight when he gets to UCLA, as his year-long athletic schedule (he’s also a high-level basketball player) leaves him extremely lean and light. He’s a prospect reminiscent of former UCLA left tackle Torian White, who had similar hurdles to overcome in order to become a Bruin starter but also possessed the same freakish upside.

To round out the offensive line class, UCLA offensive line coach Adrian Klemm seems to have focused in on 3-star lineman Francisco Perez (Baldwin Park, CA/Baldwin Park). Perez is an explosive and powerful run blocker who fits very well into UCLA’s vision of a more power-oriented offense.

Next: BOOM! Texas OL Jake Raulerson To Transfer To UCLA

Perez is currently committed to Cal, but UCLA is putting the full court press on him and you can never count out Klemm in a recruitment once he locks in on a target. Perez seems to be torn between staying local with UCLA and honoring his longtime commitment to Cal, but the Bruins really want this one to break their way because Klemm definitely rates Perez highly as an offensive guard prospect.