Kylie Fitts to UCLA: Bruins Land 4-Star DE Recruit
UCLA has landed a well-rounded defensive end prospect with a big ceiling as Kylie Fitts, from Redlands, Calif., has committed to take his talents to the Bruins.
247Sports' composite rankings have him as a 4-star recruit and the eighth-ranked strong-side defensive end recruit in this class. He also comes in at No. 91 overall in the country and is the No. 9 recruit out of California.
Rivals.com's Edward Lewis brings us the news.
Fitts is a 6'4", 241-pound defensive lineman with plenty of room on his frame to add more bulk, and he already shows good natural strength. He can shed blockers using his power and his hands, and he comes off the snap nice and low. In this way, he is consistently a disruptive force in the run game.
If he continues to add strength, he will be an elite end at sealing off the edge against the run. He could possibly even move to the interior of the defensive line.
Fitts is also a solid pass-rusher, using his low center of gravity and his hands to rush into the backfield. He needs some serious refinement in his pass-rush moves, but most players do at this age. With good coaching he should make big strides.
He will never be an elite pass-rusher, but his all-around game makes up for that. Also, he plays with a high motor and appears to be very coachable.
Fitts had previously committed to USC, but according to ESPN's Blair Angulo, he changed his mind in January. Angulo passed along this quote from Fitts about his decision:
"Something happened recently that questioned my trust in USC, so I'm reopening my recruitment.
"
Angulo also shares that Fitts' senior season was cut short due to a broken wrist. However, following the season, he was able to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game.
Losing such a talented prospect to rival UCLA is a huge blow to Lane Kiffin and USC.
Fitts' potential to add bulk and strength give him an incredibly high ceiling. He already projects to be a solid starter, and he should be candidate to play right away. But with some added power, he will be an absolute monster at the collegiate level.
