UCLA Football has recruiting momentum after pair of 4-star additions
The UCLA football team added two four-star commitments to its 2023 recruiting class and here’s our breakdown of what it means for the Bruins.
Earlier this week, the UCLA football team started trending with expert predictions for four-star linebacker Tre Edwards.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker out of Chula Vista is ranked 250th overall according to the On3.com consensus rankings and is also the 16th-best player in the state of California, as well as the No. 21-ranked linebacker in the 2023 recruiting class.
UCLA football hosted Edwards for an official visit last weekend and despite getting interest from USC, which got a crystal ball at one time, and other schools out West, Edwards became convinced of his choice on that visit according to what he told Chad Simmons from On3.com:
"“The official visit changed everything. It just felt like home. About midway through the visit, I had that feeling and I knew I wanted to commit. (Later) I called coach Norton and told him I was ready to commit. He was excited, he let coach Kelly know, and then he called me. I took my time, but when I knew I found where I wanted to be, there was no reason to wait. The coaches were excited. Coach Norton can’t wait to work with me and coach Kelly wants me to help build this recruiting class.”"
As we discussed when Edwards started to trend to UCLA football, the Bruins hadn’t landed a four-star prospect yet in the 2023 class. The Bruins have signed nine four-star recruits over the last two cycles but didn’t have any in the 2023 class until this week.
4-star LB isn’t the only pledge this week for UCLA football
Edwards was expected to commit on Friday and did. But Roderick Robinson actually committed before him on Thursday after getting just one crystal ball. Robinson is ranked as a three-star running back by the 247 sports composite rankings but is ranked No. 341 overall (as a four-star) according to On3.
He’s 6-foot-1, 238 pounds, and he’s another recruit that had his mind changed on his official visit. That’s a good sign for the Bruins who now have five commits in the 2023 class. Robinson also told On3.com how much he believes in Chip Kelly.
“I believe in coach Kelly,” Robinson said. “He has been there. He has done that. UCLA is on the rise and we will win a Rose Bowl soon. The mindset of the players is changing, the work ethic is there, and coach Kelly is getting his players there. Big things are coming at UCLA.”
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The Bruins haven’t signed as many recruits as they used to with the transfer portal. But with 11 of their 34 commitments coming in as blue chips, they clearly have some positive vibes on the trail which is what needs to happen for Chip to get the program humming how he wants.