With National Signing Day just days away, we look at the five most important commits in the UCLA recruiting class.
Though the UCLA Bruins must replace talented quarterback Josh Rosen, two top receivers and three starters on the offensive line, Chip Kelly inherits a talented team capable of challenging for the Pac-12 South title in short order.
Kelly has a great offensive track record, especially as a college head coach and Jim Mora recruited well. Mora and his coaching built the foundation for what is currently the No. 18 class in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. With the traditional signing day just around the corner, the UCLA recruiting class includes 18 players — eight four-star prospects among them. Eight players have signed with the Bruins, and 10 are expected to put pen to paper in February.
Here we take a look at five of the most important players expected to be part of Kelly’s first team.
5. Chase Cota, Wide receiver
Having lost leading receiver Jordan Lasley to the NFL Draft and No. 2 Darren Andrews to graduation, wide receiver was a position of need for the Bruins. To help fill the holes, UCLA signed two four-star wideouts during the early period and has two three-star receivers committed to sign in February, plus two players listed as athletes who could help out in the passing game if needed.
Chase Cota is the best of the bunch. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Cota is a big target, though he also has good speed, hands and leaping ability. A U.S. All-American Game participant, Cota has reportedly been clocked at 4.53 in the 40. The No. 158 overall player in the 247Sports Composite and No. 29 receiver nationally, Cota has the all-around skill-set to contribute right away.
4. Stephen Blaylock, Safety
The defense has been the biggest problem for UCLA in recent seasons. The Bruins ranked No. 122 in points allowed per game (39.7) and No. 120 in Defensive S&P+ (35.4) last season. Run defense was a glaring weakness, and though the squad ranked second in the Pac-12 in pass defense (196.3 yards allowed per game), UCLA allowed 7.2 yards per catch, which ranked a mediocre 60th nationally.
Upgrading the safety position should help in both areas. Starter Jaleel Wadood, who ranked third on the team in tackling, graduated, which could open the door for Stephen Blaylock to see the field as a true freshman. Blaylock has great speed for the position and a nose for the football. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Bellflower native was rated as a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite ranked No. 255 overall and 20th among high school safety prospects.
3. Bo Calvert, Outside linebacker
An upgrade at linebacker would also be key towards improving the UCLA defense. Kenny Young departs after leading the team with 93.5 tackles and 18 run stuffs and though the Bruins have only added one linebacker recruit to the mix in this recruiting cycle, he’s a good one.
Bo Calvert ranked No. 251 in the Composite and is considered a Top 20 outside linebacker prospect. Calvert, who also participated in the U.S. Army All-America Game, played some defensive end in high school and has a solid set of pass rushing skills – which will come in handy for a unit that ranked tenth in the conference and 92nd in the country in sacks last season.
2. Bryan Addison, Athlete
As one of the aforementioned athletes in the 2018 UCLA recruiting class, Bryan Addison could contribute in the receiving corps. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds, he has the ideal frame for a red zone target, and he also has the athleticism and ball skills to make plays on offense.
However, Addison’s future likely lies on defense, and he flashed his potential at the Under Armour All-America Game. Though he isn’t a speedster and has some work to do in the weight room to fill out his frame, Addison is an intriguing prospect that could develop into an All-Pac-12 safety. Regardless of exactly where he ends up, Addison has talent. Ranked No. 98 overall and third among athletes, he chose UCLA over a prestigious list of schools, including Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Pac-12 rivals USC and Oregon.
1. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Quarterback
The obvious choice for No. 1 is Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who should become the next face of the UCLA football program assuming he follows through with his commitment and signs in February. Though Devon Modster flashed potential while filling in for Rosen in 2017, Thompson-Robinson is a perfect fit for Kelly’s offense. Ranked No. 2 among this year’s dual-threat quarterback prospects, DTR is a high four-star recruit ranked No. 36 overall in the 247Sports Composite who was recruited by just about every FBS program.
Next: National Signing Day: 10 diamonds in the rough
An Elite 11 standout and Under Armour All-American, Thompson-Robinson is extremely athletic, has a strong arm, and is also an accurate passer. Though he doesn’t have prototypical NFL size at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, once schooled in Kelly’s system, DTR should develop into an even better playmaker than he showed in high school. Expect him to compete for the starting job this fall.