UCLA Football: 3 early signees who’ll have instant impact in 2018

Another position that needs improvement despite an improved 2017 season is the safety position. The entire defensive backfield could use a bit of a bump, but it did impress, allowing just over 206 yards per game through the air.

On Wednesday, Chip Kelly and the Bruins signed four-star safety Stephan Blaylock from nearby Bellflower, Calif. The talented safety is currently the only player in the class committed or signed at that position. He stands 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds and possesses the ideal quickness and vertical movement for the position.

Blaylock’s film is impressive as he can be a ball-hawking safety as his ball skills are impressive and he breaks on receivers almost as soon as the ball leaves the quarterback’s hands. However, despite the fact that he doesn’t often go for the big hits and breaks down correctly in the path of the ball-carrier, he could use some work on his tackling.

Still, the Bruins could be looking to replace Jaleel Wadood in the secondary and Blaylock could be the guy who joins the rotation in 2018. We might see this kid on the two-deep by fall action.