Go Joe Bruin takes a look at the transition in recruiting for the UCLA football team as new head coach Chip Kelly begins to assemble the future, though he might hit some rough spots. Although there are also a few bright spots and possibly more on the horizon
The UCLA football team is going through some all-around changes. Go Joe Bruin has taken a look at how the coaching staff has been altered, so now it is time to look at the recruiting portion of Chip Kelly’s job.
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It has not been smooth, but when is a coaching change smooth? The new leader of the program has to implement his style and get the people he needs to work in that style. So far we have seen a lot of decommitments from the program, but there have also been a couple big commitments, as well as a few future prospects looking toward Westwood.
Related Story: UCLA Football - A change in staff sometimes comes with a change of heart
Decommitments since Chip Kelly was hired:
- 4* S Cam’ron Jones
- 3* OT Chris Bleich
- 3* C Trey Stratford
- 3* LB Kolin Demens
- 3* RB AJ Carter
- 3* LB Matthew Tago
- 3* DT Niti Liu
- 3* RB Levitone Lesane
Every single one of these players that have decommitted were recruited by Jim Mora and his staff. If the old regime was still in tact, there is a good change most of them would have stayed. One also has to take into consideration that not all of them would have remained committed even with Mora and staff keeping their jobs.
Whether it be grades, eligibility or simply a change of heart, not every class stays in tact.
Another side to this has to do with the fact that if a player decommits, its possible he was asked to decommit or have his offer pulled. Kelly has the right to do this, as cruel as it may seem, but Kelly is getting paid to put together a winning team and if he does not think certain players fit his system, then they do not fit the system and all parties move on.