One of the most intriguing recruitments in UCLA Football history took place in the Class of 2015. Here’s a look back at the recruitment of UCLA WR Cordell Broadus.
Cordell Broadus starting playing football at a very young age. Being the son of renowned rap artist Snoop Dogg, Cordell began playing in his father’s youth football league at age 5 and played in it all the way up until high school.
Snoop Dogg enrolled Cordell at his alma mater, Long Beach Polytechnic High School (CA), a SoCal powerhouse for high school athletics. However, his stay at Long Beach Poly did not last very long. Cordell packed his bags and headed to Diamond Bar High School (CA).
Cordell spent 2 years playing football for the Gauchos in Diamond Bar. In 9 games, Cordell racked up 1198 yards off of 98 receptions. Following his junior season, reports of Broadus transferring schools once again began to surface the news. However, on multiple occasions, he denied those reports.
In January of 2014, Broadus made public the news of him transferring to Bishop Gorman (NV) for his senior year official. His motive for making the switch was “playing for a bigger school to get ready for college.”
His school of choice, Bishop Gorman, was one of the top football programs in the nation at that time. Prior to his arrival at Bishop Gorman, Cordell had already collected several scholarship offers from schools all over the country.
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All eyes were set on Broadus once he entered the national spotlight playing for football powerhouse Bishop Gorman. His senior season was very eventful to say the least. It was his third high school, a year of up-and-downs, and a season with reoccurring injuries.
Not to mention, he and his father had their own TV show, Snoop & Son, which aired on ESPN in the fall of 2014 all the way up until Signing Day. The show gave the ESPN audience an inside look into Cordell’s recruitment and the relationship between him and is father.
UCLA Bruins
He wrapped up his senior campaign with 602 receiving yards off 39 receptions. 11 of those 39 receptions accounted for touchdowns. The senior wide receiver led the Bishop Gorman Gaels to a perfect 15-0 record. The Gaels ended the season at #2 nationally, according to MaxPreps.com.
Cordell took a handful of unofficial and official visits throughout the process, checking out schools like Oregon, Arizona State, Notre Dame, and UCLA. Believe it or not, UCLA Wide Receivers Coach Eric Yarber was the first one to offer Broadus. Cordell decided to stretch out the process alll the way until Signing Day.
Many thought he was a USC lock, considering his father was a longtime Trojans fan, always donning USC gear and even leading the USC band after games. That was not the case, however.
Broadus announced his commitment to UCLA at Bishop Gorman around noon on Signing Day of 2015. Broadus held up a UCLA #21 jersey assuring his pledge to the Bruins, and Snoop rocked a UCLA jersey that day as well. Shortly after the commitment, Snoop Dogg stated, “I’m throwing all my USC drawers away. I’m 100% UCLA.”
On the morning of August 14, 2015, news broke that Broadus had reportedly quit the UCLA Football team right before fall practice. It left many UCLA fans shocked. In addition, his mother, Shante Broadus, stated she was “blindsided” by her son’s decision to leave football.
Cordell decided to part ways with UCLA Football and focus on school, staying enrolled at UCLA as a film major. Months later, Cordell began to post pictures of him playing football on his social media accounts, hinting at a possible return to the UCLA Football program.
#TheReturn? pic.twitter.com/nZ6oTcUnO6
— UCLA Recruiting (@UCLA_Recruiting) February 22, 2016
On March 9, 2016, Cordell Broadus officially announced that he would be returning to the UCLA Football team.
It's official! Cordell Broadus will be returning to the #UCLA Football team this spring! #8CLAP pic.twitter.com/gMqMP8u9nQ
— UCLA Recruiting (@UCLA_Recruiting) March 9, 2016
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Cordell will be a walk-on sophomore this upcoming season. Expect him to be a big-time target for QB Josh Rosen this fall. The two have become very good friends in Westwood and have a lot of chemistry, having played in many camps together throughout high school.