UCLA Football: Holiday Wish List for the Bruins

'Tis the holiday season for Jim Mora and the UCLA football program. 

For those adults longing for the days in which you can revert back to an eager youngster ready to ravage through gifts, this piece is for you. 

In terms of a wish list, there are three items that UCLA would love to collect during this season of spirit. 

Two of the potential "presents" deal directly with recruiting. A third item on the list strictly revolves around the bowl game vs. Kansas State on Jan. 2 at 6:45 p.m. ET.

Sign an elite skill player on offense

When looking at UCLA's current crop of commitments for the 2015 class, Scout.com 5-star tight end Alize Jones stands out as the highest-ranked skill position player committed.

The Bishop Gorman High School product is a walking mismatch. He truly represents the new-age player at the position with his ability not only to line up as a traditional tight end but also to split out wide as a bigger receiver.

Jones would instantly impact UCLA's depth chart and would likely play early as a freshman. 

However, his level of commitment could be described as shaky at best. Notre Dame has been—and continues to be—a fixture within his recruitment. 

Jones' high school teammate and good friend Nicco Fertitta is committed to the Fighting Irish. The two have traveled to South Bend multiple times together, and Fertitta is undeniably trying to bring his teammate with him to college. 

Should UCLA not be able to hold onto Jones, there are two players in particular whom it can pivot to. 

Staying at the tight end position, UCLA is targeting Chris Clark. Rated as the top tight end in the country by Scout.com, Clark is a different player compared to Jones. 

He's much more in the traditional mold of a true tight end—something UCLA hasn't had since the days of Joe Fauria. Clark could theoretically act as a security blanket for whomever will man the quarterback position while also acting as a bigger option blocking on the line in run situations. 

UCLA can also point to its solid track record of putting tight ends into the NFL. Cory Harkey, Logan Paulsen, Marcedes Lewis and Fauria have all made impacts this year playing on the next level. 

Additionally, there's no question UCLA could use a bit more explosiveness out of its offense. One player fitting the bill considerably in this case could be elite running back Soso Jamabo. 

Rated as the best back in the nation by 247Sports, Jamabo has long considered UCLA as one of his favorites. According to many pundits from the site, UCLA could be the favorite at this point to land him. 

Potentially combining Jamabo with Paul Perkins would give UCLA a very good one-two punch in the backfield. 

Signing either (if not both) Clark and Jamabo would go a long way in helping UCLA's offense become even more productive and explosive. 

Finishing off the recruiting season well

Staying with the theme of recruiting, UCLA should hope to finish off this recruiting cycle strong. This includes not only signing prospects but also holding onto the commitments it has currently. 

As previously stated, holding onto Jones will likely be an endeavor lasting all the way up until signing day in February. 

Recruiting in general is extremely fluid and fickle in nature. These are impressionable young men at a young age. There's no telling how an official visit will impact one's commitment level to any school. In the case of UCLA, it appears as if most of the commitments are solid. 

From sheer speculation, one commitment in question could be linebacker Victor Alexander. It's always a tricky proposition garnering a commitment from the other side of the country. The Jacksonville, Florida, native committed to UCLA over a year ago.

With that said, he's still yet to visit the campus in any capacity. 

As signing day gets closer and closer, the allure of staying closer to home (and attending either Georgia Tech or Virginia Tech) could prove to be too much. Running back T.J. Simmons (also from Florida) could fall into the same category.

In terms of trying to garner commitments, UCLA is pursuing players from all across the country.

In terms of feasibility, the prospects UCLA could have the best chance with include Clark, Jamabo, Osa Masina, Jeffery Holland, DeChaun Holiday, Nathan Meadors, Josh Wariboko, Carlos Strickland, Fotu Leiato, Maea Teuhema, Tyrone Wheatley, Benning Potoae and Jojo Wicker.

Kyon Clark and Semisi Uluave also could be possibilities. 

Scout.com has UCLA with the No. 7 recruiting class in the country. When looking at average star ranking per commitment, the Bruins are tops in the nation—with a 3.89 star-rating-per-recruit average. 

A win versus Kansas State

A victory over a very tough Kansas State team in the Valero Alamo Bowl would be the perfect way for Mora and his program to start the 2015 season. 

The matchup alone is intriguing for a variety of reasons. For one, this could be the best bowl game outside of the major ones. This game pits two highly ranked teams from power conferences in a complete clashing of styles. 

Bill Snyder is also one of the best coaches in football—regardless of level. UCLA will have to play with a tremendous amount of focus and energy. The Wildcats rarely beat themselves and are more often than not a team with terrific discipline and physicality. 

A win versus a highly respectable opponent in a good bowl game would be another notch in Mora's belt. It could continue to signify UCLA's ascent as a hot program in the landscape of college football.