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UCLA Football Recruiting: DE Datona Jackson expected to flip from USC

By Mike Regalado

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Osa Odighizuwa #92 of the UCLA Bruins gets his hands in the face of JT Daniels #18 of the USC Trojans during the first half at Rose Bowl on November 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 17: Osa Odighizuwa #92 of the UCLA Bruins gets his hands in the face of JT Daniels #18 of the USC Trojans during the first half at Rose Bowl on November 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The UCLA football team is expected to get a big flip as 3-star defensive end Datona Jackson (Union City, OH/College of the Desert) is expected to sign with the Bruins after his offer from USC was apparently pulled.

Death, taxes and certainly not college football recruiting. If there is anything that is the opposite of guaranteed, it is recruiting. On Early Signing Period Eve, the UCLA football team is surely experiencing that as they have missed on some recruits but might be able to pull in one that could make a difference with the defense.

RELATED: A Quick Look at UCLA Football Recruiting Before the Early Signing Period

On Tuesday night, USA Today reporter Andrew John had tweeted out that JUCO DE Datona Jackson had his offer pulled from USC, where it was assumed he was headed after decommitting from Colorado.

Instead, it looks like he might be heading to Westwood.

This is a big pick up for UCLA for several reasons. Not only were the Bruins able to flip a potential Trojan signee (who apparently can’t wait for Saturday, November 23, the day UCLA plays USC at the Coliseum), but this fulfills a huge need as the Bruins are desperate for a huge pass rusher.

This past season, the Bruins were a bit weak in the edge rushing department. Both Jaelan Phillips and Mique Juarez were injured early on and unable to finish the season, leaving Keisean Lucier-South as the primary pass rusher. Unfortunately, KLS was used more in coverage, pretty much leaving the Bruins with no pass rush.

If that wasn’t bad enough, this week Phillips announced that he is transferring from Westwood. It is also uncertain what Juarez plans to do. That does not bode well for the future of the Bruins pass rush… that is unless what John is reporting is true.

If Jackson turns toward the Bruin side, that will help the defensive line with a bona fide attacker off the edge.

Next. The 30 Greatest UCLA Football Players of All-Time. dark

If he commits/signs of Wednesday, he will be Chip Kelly‘s first DL for the 2019 season and the fourth defenseman.