UCLA Football Recruiting: Where Do the Bruins Look to Now?

With just under 9 months left until Signing Day of 2017, we take look at where UCLA Football stands in this recruiting cycle, and the targets they have their eyes set on.

This past week alone, UCLA has lost two commitments in the Class of 2017.  The first one came from Cathedral High School (CA) Safety Rhedi Short.

RELATED: Rhedi Short Decommits From UCLA Football 

On October 1, 2015, Short received his first scholarship offer from UCLA.  He committed on the spot, making the news official just hours later.

On May 8, Short announced his decommitment from the UCLA Football team. The 3-Star safety made the news official only one day after visiting Tucson for Arizona’s Junior Day.

The second decommitment came from Salesian High School (CA) Linebacker Rahyme Johnson on Friday the 13th of May.  The 3-Star Linebacker was UCLA’s first commit in the class, announcing his pledge back in July.   Nebraska looks to be in the driver’s seat for Johnson.

Next: Other 2017 Targets

Other 2017 UCLA Football recruiting  targets:

Darnay Holmes Calabasas HS (CA) DB: Holmes is arguably one of the top athletes out west in this year’s class.  His play is effective on both sides of the ball.  He is a lockdown corner, and that’s where DB Coach Demetrice Martin and the UCLA coaching staff are primarily recruiting him.

Holmes posses a very explosive burst of speed and toughness.  The Bruins appear to be in the driver’s seat in this recruitment, with Coach Martin and Darnay’s father, Darick Holmes, being longtime friends.  The Bruins will have to beat out schools like Stanford, Ohio State, Michigan, and Nebraska for the top Cornerback out west.

Thomas Graham Jr. Rancho Cucamonga (CA) DB: Thomas Graham Jr. is another elite Cornerback out west the Bruins are targeting.  The Rancho Cucamonga Cornerback/track star posses elite speed, and is a force to be reckoned with on at the line of scrimmage.  Graham, a former USC commit, reopened his recruitment on April 5.

UCLA Bruins

Coach Martin and the 4-star Cornerback have remained in steady contact throughout the process.  Keep a close eye on this recruitment, as UCLA will have to battle with schools like Notre Dame, Alabama, and Oregon to receive a pledge from one of the best corners in the country.

Bubba Bolden Bishop Gorman HS (NV) Safety: Bolden is currently committed to USC.  However, UCLA is still coming at the 4-star Bishop Gorman product hard.  He has built a great relationship with Martin throughout the process.  In an interview with Scout.com, Bubba actually mentioned UCLA as one of the schools recruiting him the hardest.  He plans to visit Westwood in the next couple months.

Addison Gumbs Stellar Prep HS (CA) LB: Gumbs is a hybrid Linebacker.  He is effective in coverage, and off the edge.  In fact, he had 23 sacks last season. Linebackers coach Scott White has prioritized the 2017 Stellar Prep Linebacker.  Keep an eye out on Washington, USC, and UCLA as Gumbs will announce his college decision in the next couple weeks.

Tate Martell Bishop Gorman HS (NV) QB: Martell is one one of the top Quarterbacks in the country.  He has yet to lose a game as the starting Quarterback at Bishop Gorman.  Martell may be undersized, but he posses a very strong arm with pinpoint accuracy.  He reads defenses very well, and is mobile in the pocket.  Martell recently backed off of his pledge to Texas A&M.  Expect UCLA, Oregon, and Cal to be a couple of the schools in the mix for the 5-Star QB.

Next: Others Targets, Continued

More Targets

Elijah Gates Buena Park HS (CA) CB: Gates is one of the top lockdown corners in the region.  He is ranked as a Top 10 corner nationally by Scout.com. Martin offered Gates back in February shortly after Signing Day.  Since then, the 2017 Buena Park Cornerback has been high on what the Bruins have to offer.  He has expressed his love for UCLA, however, he plans to take all of his visits and wait until Signing Day to announce his college decision.  Michigan, Oregon, and UCLA appear to be the frontrunners as of now.

"#4'sup"

Elijah Hicks La Mirada HS (CA) DB: Hicks is one of the top Cornerbacks in the state.  He has collected offers from all across the country.  UCLA has his attention early, and expect the Bruins to be a major contender in his recruitment until the very end.

Najee Harris Antioch HS (CA) RB: Harris is currently committed to Alabama.  Most site rankings have Harris not only as the top Running Back in the class, but also the #1 Overall player.  Najee has taken a handful of trips to Westwood these past couple months, raving about every single one of them.  USC, Ohio State, Cal, and UCLA look to be the top schools battling Alabama for Harris.

Baron Browning Kennedale HS (TX) LB: Browning is one of the top Linebackers in the class.  The former Baylor commit reopened his recruitment back in February.  He has a great relationship with White.  Browning visited UCLA unofficially in July.  Expect TCU (his father’s alma mater), UCLA, and Texas to be in the mix for the 5-Star Linebacker.

Greg Rogers Arbor View HS (NV) DT:  Rogers is one of the top Defensive Tackles nationally.  His size and strength are a nightmare for any interior Offensive Lineman.  His nonstop motor makes it nearly impossible to keep him out of the backfield.  USC, UCLA, and some SEC schools have his attention early.

Anthony Hines Plano East HS (TX) LB: Hines has the most offers of any prospect in the Class of 2017.  In fact, he is inching towards the triple digit mark.  In his junior year, Hines recorded an insane 205 total tackles.  UCLA has been a major contender throughout the process of his entire recruitment.  Hines, in fact, is also aware of the Plano, Texas-to-UCLA pipeline.

Deommodore Lenoir Salesian HS (CA) DB: Lenoir is another Top Cornerback target for the Bruins.  He’s strong, physical, and a very fierce competitor.  His technique and IQ is what really sets him apart from other Cornerbacks.  Lenoir has collected a lot of national attention these last couple months.  Oregon, Michigan, , Nebraska, USC, and UCLA are a handful of the many schools targeting the 4-Star Salesian DB.

Chaz Ah You Timpview HS (UT) Safety: Ah You is the top Safety prospect out West.  The Timpview product’s 6’2″/190 frame makes him a nightmare for opposing offenses.  Ah You’s elite coverage ability and physicality is what sets him apart from other Safety targets.  Stanford and UCLA stand out right now in his recruitment, but watch out for BYU down the stretch.

Next: Others Targets, Continued

Other Targets

KJ Jarrell Saguaro HS (AZ) Safety: Jarrell is one of the top Safeties out west in the Class of 2017.  The tall, hard-hitting Saguaro Safety holds over a dozen Power-5 offers.  He took an unofficial visit to UCLA back in March.  Expect UCLA, Washington, and both of the Arizona schools to be the teams to beat in his recruitment.

"Had a great time at my unofficial visit to UCLA"

Deonte “DJ” Johnson Burbank HS (CA) DE: Johnson is one of the most athletic Defenisve Ends in the country.  He brings a non-stop motor to the line with that athleticism.  His quickness off the edge is a nightmare for any Offensive Lineman.  The Bruins were the first to offer the elite 2017 pass-rusher.  However, he has garnered a lot more attention nationally and picked up just over 3 dozen more Power-5 offers since then.  UCLA, Washington, Ole Miss, among others are some schools to keep an eye on in his recruitment.

Jaylon Redd Rancho Cucamonga  HS (CA) DB: Redd, attends the same high school as fellow UCLA DB Target Thomas Graham Jr. Jaylon is one of the most fierce competitors in the state of California in his class.  He is physical, and great in coverage.  Oregon and UCLA appear to be the schools to beat in his recruitment.

Tarik Black Cheshire Academy HS (CT) WR: Black is the top target at Wide Reciver for the Bruins in this class.  He is currently ranked the #1 WR in the east (per Scout.com.)  His size is what sets him apart from most receivers.  Tarik stands at 6’3″, and has big hands to go along with his lengthy frame.  His toughness and quickness at the line of scrimmage.

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Go Bruins!