UCLA Football: National Signing Day position group report card

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Defensive Line: A

★★★★ DE Elijah Wade 6’5, 240 lbs., (Arbor View/Las Vegas, NV)

★★★★ DT Tyler Manoa 6’5, 260 lbs., St. Francis (Mountain View, CA)

★★★ DT Otito Ogbonnia 6’3, 300 lbs. (Taylor/Katy, TX)

★★★ DE Steven Mason 6’8, 250 lbs., (Southwestern College/Chula Vista, CA)

★★★ DT Atonio Mafi 6’3, 360 lbs., (Junipero Serra/San Mateo, CA)

The overachieving continues as UCLA brought in five very good defensive linemen, of few of which could help out immediately, most of which will be huge factors in the future.

The interesting thing about this position group is that most of these recruits committed in the last month. At the time of the early signing period, Atonio Mafi was the only player that had signed a national letter of intent (or was even committed), and this was just after UCLA flipped him from Cal.

With DC Jerry Azzinaro expected to play an aggressive style of defense, the players he brought in are more than able to develop into those roles. With the position group thin in some areas, it is possible we see a few of these players have significant time on the field next season.

Wade could be an edge rusher that gets time behind Jaelan Phillips. With UCLA trying to erase the memories of bad run defense from the last few seasons, it is apparent Azzinaro wants to change that stigma and now has a few more players that could live up to that billing. He will also get help in the middle with Manoa signed on. His fundamentals are already developed to the point that he could play a significant role next year.

Still, no matter who produces, it is nice to see the Bruins with a lot of players in a position group like this.