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UCLA Football: TE Caleb Wilson is declaring for the NFL Draft

By Mike Regalado

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Bobby Okereke #20 and Malik Antoine #3 of the Stanford Cardinal chase Caleb Wilson #81 of the UCLA Bruins on this 66 yard pass play during the second half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 24, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Bobby Okereke #20 and Malik Antoine #3 of the Stanford Cardinal chase Caleb Wilson #81 of the UCLA Bruins on this 66 yard pass play during the second half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 24, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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It was announced today that redshirt junior tight end, Caleb Wilson< has decided to forego his senior year of eligibility and is declaring for the pros.

It only took a season and a half to create a star, which is why UCLA football‘s Caleb Wilson has decided to skip his final year with the Bruins and put his name into the NFL Draft.

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It has been quite the collegiate experience for Wilson who is about to take the next step in his football career. After entering college with hopes of being a quarterback, Wilson had opted to play for USC, coming in as a preferred walk-on. But after being buried on the depth chart and his father being let go (he was on the USC coaching staff), Wilson decided to transfer and take his talents to Westwood.

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In 2016, he played on special teams and as a backup tight end, catching the ball 16 times for 220 yards, but it was the following season is where he had burst onto the scene.

In 2017, he became a favorite target of former UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, catching the ball 38 times for 490 yards. Definitely an improvement, but it also must be noted that he did all of this in only five games. Midway through the season, Wilson injured his foot and was done for the season. Still, what he did in less than half of the 2017 season was enough to receive Pro Football Focus’s label as the best tight end in the nation.

Wilson was expected to continue his domination after a coaching change brought in offensive guru Chip Kelly and he did not disappoint. This past season, Wilson had 965 receiving yards, the most among all tight ends in the country. He also added four touchdowns and a team-high 80.4 yards per game.

Wilson displayed his skills early in the season as he caught for 92 yards against Oklahoma, which included a 65-yard play. He was able to catch for over 100 yards three times during the season as he had 103 against Washington, 164 against Arizona State and a season-high 184 yards against Stanford in the 2018 season finale.

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To say that Wilson will be missed is an understatement. Not only did he excel on a personal level, but he was able to help Chip Kelly mold his new offensive style with UCLA. Though the Bruins could use his talents in Phase 2 of the Kelly project, he should be a reliable weapon for the NFL team that is lucky enough to select him. Good luck, Caleb!