UCLA Football: National Signing Day position group report card

Runnings Backs: B+

★★★ RB Kazmeir Allen 5’10, 185 lbs., (Tulare Union/Tulare, CA)

★★★ RB Martell Irby 5’8, 204 lbs. (Morse/San Diego, CA)

Through no fault of his own, Kelly had to quickly address the running back situation on the recruiting trail. Before he took over, UCLA did not have a commitment for the backfield (they did, but at the time the recruit had decommitted).

That quickly changed when he offered Allen. The central California product did not even have UCLA on his final list, but when Chip Kelly comes knocking, you listen and he not only committed to the Bruins, but signed his NLI during the early signing period.

On NSD, the Bruins picked up another speedster as they flipped Irby from Arizona who is now heading to Westwood and bringing the skills that could help him thrive under Chip Kelly.

It will be interesting to see who emerges as the primary backs given that UCLA also has Soso Jamabo, Bolu Olorunfunmi, Jalen Starks and Brandon Stephens on the roster.

At least now the Bruins have several reliable options to choose from. They have the power backs like Olorunfunmi, Starks and Stephans and now have the speedsters Allen and Irby to go along with Jamabo. Expect another running back group by committee next season.