UCLA Football Recruiting: Commits, decommits and moving forward

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.

RELATED: Update on Chip Kelly’s coaching staff

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.

The Latest UCLA Football Commitments

The UCLA football team does not necessarily have a bare cupboard to give Kelly, but there are certain position groups that need immediate attention. Offensive line and linebackers are two groups that have not been recruited well for the Bruins in the last few cycles. The unfortunate thing is that there were a few solid prospects committed to Mora’s Bruins and are now gone.

The Bruins lose OT Bleich and C Stratford (who Kelly apparently wanted to keep, but he had other plans and flipped to Stanford), which left them with zero OL commits before last week. Luckily, Kelly and OL coach Hank Fraley landed a versatile OT in Alec Anderson, but the Bruins still have a long way to go in recruiting offensive linemen and especially linebackers.

Commits since Chip Kelly was hired

• 4* ATH Bryan Addison
• 3* RB Kazmeir Allen
• 3* OT Alec Anderson

With depth being a major issue, the Bruins needs to snag 2-3 linebackers, if only for depth, but Kelly and new LB coach Don Pellum are not going to recruit just to fill spots. Look for this to position group to make major improvements on the recruiting trail and on the field moving forward.

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Already we have seen what having Chip Kelly run your program can do as he has landed two top-tier recruits since getting hired.

A week ago, UCLA got a commitment from 3-star speedster, RB Kazmeir Allen (who just broke the national record for touchdowns in a season with 71 this past Friday). This was.a huge get as Allen didn’t have the Bruins in his top 6. He committed when he got the offer. Lucky them.

This past weekend, Kelly added his third and biggest recruit so far as 4-star ATH Bryan Addison gave his pledge to the Bruins. Oh yeah, he is also the #1 rated ATH in the nation, so the fact that Kelly is getting the top talent is promising for the future. And what about the future? Let’s dive into that…

Official Visits and Targets

With Kelly at the helm, recruits are now looking, or giving a second look, to UCLA. It’s no secret that his offense is exciting and Kelly 2.0 at UCLA is going to bring a lot of intrigue and recruits want to be a part of that.

This weekend UCLA hosted several players on their official visits. There were a few commits, a few that were about to commit and a few that are still far from making a decision, (but are highly considering UCLA).

Recent Official Visits

Friday, December 8

• 5* WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
• 4* ATH Bryan Addison
• 4* QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
• 4* WR Isaiah Crocker
• 3* OG Jarrett Bell
• 3* OT Alec Anderson
• 3* TE Tommy Tremble

Saturday, December 9

• OT Mike Grady

Friday, December 15

• 3* OT Jarrett Patterson

Related Story: Paul Rhoads to join UCLA as DB coach

As we saw in the last slide, Addison committed two days after his official. These recruits got to see UCLA up close and personal and discuss what lies ahead for UCLA with the coaching staff and for Addison, it was enough to make his decision on where he will be playing football for the next few seasons.

But with that we could also see a few more recruits heading to Westwood. OL Jarrett Bell and TE Tommy Tremble have been warming up to UCLA and it is possible (not guaranteed) that Tremble could decide on blue and gold when he commits later this week.

But there are other targets UCLA fans have to keep their eye on. We could be hearing some good things from top targets like WR Devon Williams, CB Brandon Radley-Hiles, WR Chase Coat and DE Elijah Wade.

Current 2018 UCLA Football Recruiting Class

• 4* CB Olaijah Griffin, 6’0″, 170 lbs., Mission Viejo HS (Mission Viejo, CA)
• 4* QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, 6’1″, 195 lbs., Bishop Gorman HS (Las Vegas, NV)
• 4* ATH Bryan Addison, 6’5″, 180 lbs., Junipero Serra HS (Gardena, CA)
• 4* WR Jahan Dotson, 5’11”, 165 lbs., Nazareth HS (Nazareth, PA)
• 4* DE Abdul-Malik McClain, 6’4″, 230 lbs., Serra Catholic HS (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
• 4* S Stephan Blaylock, 5’10”, 185 lbs., St.John Bosco HS )Bellflower, CA)
• 4* WR Kyle Phillips, 5’11”, 176 lbs., San Marcos HS (San Marcos, CA)
• 3* RB Kazmeir Allen, 5’10”, 185 lbs., Tulare Union HS (Tulare, CA)
• 3* ATH Isaiah Johnson, 6’2″, 210 lbs., Thomas Downey HS (Modesto, CA)
• 3* OT Alec Anderson, 6’5″, 283 lbs., Etiwanda HS (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
• 3* WR CJ Parks, 5’11”, 186 lbs., Mater Dei HS (Santa Ana, CA)

Related Story: 4-star ATH Bryan Addison commits to UCLA

The current recruiting class is shaping up to be a good one. It was pretty darn good with Mora, and despite taking hits with the decommitments, Kelly seems to be holding things together.

With the addition of Addison, UCLA is now 24th on 247sports 2018 recruiting class rankings (one above USC, if you need something to rub into your Trojan pals).

This is good, but the recruiting process is far from over. On December 20 (and lasting 72 hours) we might get a few of these recruits to put ink to paper during the early signing period. After that, we have to wait until Wednesday, February 7, 2018 for National Signing Day.

Please note that in between now and then, UCLA will lose commitments, but will also gain commitments. It is a roller coaster that we all have to ride every year, but this cycle, Bruin fans have a lot to be excited about.

All UCLA football recruiting information comes from 247sports.com.

Next: The 30 Greatest UCLA Football Players of All-Time

Stay with Go Joe Bruin as we continue to bring you all the latest information regarding Chip Kelly molding his team with both the coaching staff and his roster. Go Bruins!