Receivers/Tight Ends: A+
★★★★ ATH Bryan Addison 6’5, 180 lbs., (Junipero Serra/Gardena, CA)
★★★★ WR Chase Cota 6’3, 195 lbs., (South Medford/Medford, OR)
★★★★ TE Michael Ezeike 6’5, 220 lbs., (Colony/Ontario, CA)
★★★★ WR Kyle Phillips 5’11, 176 lbs., (San Marcos/San Marcos, CA)
★★★ TE Matt Alaimo 6’5, 235 lbs., (St. Joseph Regional/Montvale, NJ)
★★★ WR Delon Hurt 6’0, 190 lbs., (Servite/Anaheim, CA)
★★★ TE David Priebe 6’6, 212 lbs. (Midway/Waco, TX)
There are several position groups where UCLA went above and beyond. This is one of them. Not only that, this is the best receiving group UCLA has signed in several seasons.
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Not only did they get several top (and local) talents, but they got the pieces that will fit perfectly into Kelly’s puzzle. With it being assume that UCLA will operate in a run-based spread offense, Kelly needed to get, as he says “players that are fast a long.”
He did that and more with his receivers and tight ends, hauling in seven total pass catchers with five of them standing 6’3 and over.
I would not doubt that several of the receivers, including Addison and Cota, playing decent minutes next season. UCLA also loses several notable receivers, so it is quite possible for a handful of these new Bruins to see some early field time.
The Bruins also brought in three tight ends which may seem like overkill, but if it works for Kelly, then we are all for it. Ezeike was this late surprise when he picked the Bruins over USC and Oregon. Although it might be sometime before we see any of these players get meaningful minutes (the Bruins already have depth with their TEs including explosive Caleb Wilson, Jordan Wilson and now eligible Devin Asiasi), it is good to see Kelly is planning for the future.