UCLA Football Recruiting: 5 2015 Recruits Bruins Must Land

Recruiting for Jim Mora and the UCLA football team is off to a great start for the 2015 class. 

Using Scout.com as a mechanism of reference, the Bruins currently have the No. 15 class in the country. If one looks at the average star rating per recruit, UCLA is No. 3 nationally—ranking behind only Alabama and Michigan. 

This piece will speak about the must-get recruits for this class—strictly based on need from a roster and talent perspective. The list won't be a comprehensive look at every elite recruit UCLA is pursuing. However, the athletes listed here all have a feasible shot at eventually ending up in Westwood. 

*Star rankings for the recruits are all from Scout.com, unless noted otherwise. 

Soso Jamabo

Behind Paul Perkins, there isn't a ton of depth at the running back position.

While UCLA does have two committed running backs in T.J. Simmons and Bolu Olorunfunmi, Soso Jamabo would instantly become the most innately talented player at the position on the entire roster—regardless of year. 

The Texas native fits the mold of what running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu looks for. Jamabo is big, fast and extremely athletic. He's also more than capable of catching passes out of the backfield. 

Jamabo is an elite talent. One could envision Jamabo having a Royce Freeman-like impact as a true freshman. 

The next step for UCLA as a program is to enhance the athleticism and talent among the skill positions. The 4-star back would go a long way in improving this area of concern. 

Keisean Lucier-South

Courtesy of 247sports.com

DE/OLB Keisean Lucier-South

Keisean Lucier-South is eerily similar to former UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr.

Like Barr, the 5-star athlete can be classified as a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end. Also like Barr, much of Lucier-South's effectiveness comes when his hand is in the dirt. He's able to utilize his elite athleticism to get around opposing offensive tackles en route to the quarterback. 

Lucier-Smith might require a redshirt year in order to get physically stronger. Once the Orange Lutheran High School product adds a bit more bulk, he'll become a potential monster with his first-step quickness and agility. 

According to Adam Gorney of Rivals.com, Lucier-South will officially visit UCLA later this month.

Osa Masina

Courtesy of 247sports.com

Athlete Osa Masina...

Osa Masina is one of the most gifted players in the entire country. 

For his high school team, the 5-star athlete plays all over the field—on both sides of the ball. Surely, this facet will be something UCLA uses when recruiting him. Mora has shown the propensity to utilize his players very creatively on both offense and defense. 

There's no secret UCLA needs to upgrade its ability to get after the opposing quarterback. Masina has the capabilities of rushing the passer with his agility and overall athleticism. He's also more than capable of defending against smaller players in space. This versatility would allow for him to play on every down. 

UCLA would love to sign Masina come February. As it currently stands, the Bruins are on his short list. Pairing Masina with Lucier-South would give UCLA two elite bookends on the defensive side of the ball. 

Ryan Newsome

On the current roster, there aren't many players with the ability to take a five-yard pass and turn it into a 50-yard touchdown. In short, there's a glaring need for a receiver to stretch the field. 

Enter Ryan Newsome into the mix. 

The Texas native could fit incredibly well into what UCLA likes to do in regards to its offensive schemes. Newsome would be deadly on bubble screens, slants, jet sweeps, reverses and any sort of play in which the receiver gets the ball in space. 

The playmaker would instantly impact UCLA's depth chart right away. Newsome recently visited for the contest versus Arizona. 

As he told Brandon Huffman of Scout.com (subscription required), "I really saw their need for a receiver like me. It's different when you see it on television, but I definitely saw that in person."

Joseph 'Jojo' Wicker

Joseph "Jojo" Wicker is an extremely intriguing prospect for a variety of reasons. 

He brings versatility to the table—having the ability to play virtually anywhere across the defensive line. Wicker played extensively as an end during his junior season. This year, he's lining up inside as a defensive tackle. With his quickness, he's been able to rack up an eye-popping 18 sacks on the season. 

Wicker also hails from famed Long Beach Poly High School. Only a stone's throw away from the UCLA campus, the school has churned out tons of NFL players over the years—including former UCLA star and All-Pro tight end Marcedes Lewis. 

UCLA also could use help inside from a depth standpoint. Ellis McCarthy will be a senior next year. It's also feasible to think both Kenneth Clark and Eddie Vanderdoes could opt to leave early for the NFL. Additionally, depth on the defensive line is always the staple of a quality program. 

For all of those reasons, landing Wicker would be a considerable coup for the Bruins.