UCLA Football Recruiting: Looking Ahead to 2016 Class

On the heels of a wildly successful 2015 national signing day, UCLA football turns the page to 2016. 

Head coach Jim Mora has fast established UCLA as a recruiting heavyweight in the Pac-12, and the stakes for another impressive class next season are high. 

UCLA is continuing with a strategy of attacking every corner of the country, establishing the Bruins as a national brand. But Southern California is still the bedrock of UCLA's strategy, evident in the tone set by the program's first two commitments of 2016. 

2016 Commitments

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Michael Pittman (Credit: 247Sports)

The first two commitments for UCLA's 2016 signing class lay a solid foundation on which Mora and his staff can build. 

5-star defensive end Breland Brandt committed to the Bruins in October, giving the next class the kind of big, athletic pass-rusher Mora loves. Brandt also doubles as a tight end at the prep level, and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone has proven to love players who can go on both sides of the ball. 

A hypothetical offensive package with Brandt lined up alongside a fellow 2016 commit, 4-star wide receiver Michael Pittman, might look just as much at home on the hardwood of Pauley Pavilion, given the duo's size. 

Pittman goes at 6'4", 205 pounds, while Brandt is 6'5", 220 pounds. 

Offensive Targets to Know

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Dylan Crawford (Credit: 247Sports)

Quarterbacks

Just last week, UCLA extended an offer to 3-star, dual-threat quarterback Khalil Tate.

"

Blessed to receive my 7th offer from UCLA in the PAC-12 Thanks to the man above🙏 #8Clap💙💛🐻

— #KhalilTate (@KhalilDTN) February 6, 2015"

Tate has offers from Florida State, as well as UCLA's Pac-12 South counterparts Arizona and Utah. But perhaps most intriguing is that the Bruins are up against rival USC, which has also extended an offer to the quarterback. 

Tate plays his high school football at Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California, a recruiting stronghold for the Trojans in recent cycles. Making inroads there is big for UCLA, and Tate is just one of the prospects from there whom the Bruins are targeting for 2016. 

Running Backs

4-star all-purpose back Damian Alloway could be another multifaceted weapon in the UCLA offense, similar to 2014 Pac-12 leading rusher Paul Perkins. 

Alloway is high on UCLA's recruiting wish list for 2016, and the feeling is mutual. 

"I have a really good connection with coach (Jim) Mora and the coaches there,” Alloway told Ryan Bartow of 247Sports. “I can just see myself play there. It was one of my first two offers and one of my schools I liked growing up."

UCLA is also a contender for Morian Walker, a prospect out of Valley Christian in San Jose. Oregon's Byron Marshall is a past product of the same high school. 

Wide Receivers

Several highly rated wide receivers are among UCLA's top targets. Dylan Crawford, Mykel Jones, Trevon Sidney, Clyde Leflore and Darian Owens are all 4-star prospects for whom the Bruins are prominently in the mix. 

Meanwhile, furthering UCLA's efforts at Junipero Serra High School, leading the Bruins' cast of wide receiver targets is 4-star Cavalier Brandon Burton. 

Offensive Line

Michael Eletise, a 4-star guard from Honolulu, got a jump-start on the 2015 offseason with his participation at last weekend's Hawaii Nike Combine. 

"

Four big time OL from camp portion of the #NikeCombine- Sean Auwae, Michael Eletise, Frederick Mauigoa, Nate Herbig. pic.twitter.com/gfoEHf9jVv

— Todd Huber (@ToddHuberSS) February 9, 2015"

Eletise and tackle Nathan Smith are two of the linemen UCLA is early in the process of recruiting for next year. 

Defensive Targets to Know

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Eric Monroe (Credit: 247Sports)

Defensive Line

Defensive end is a priority position for UCLA's 2016 signing class, evident in the bevy of highly touted prospects the Bruins are pursuing. 

4-star Junipero Serra prospect Oluwole Betiku headlines a list that also includes fellow 4-stars Erick Fowler and Terrell Hall. 

Linebackers

UCLA's efforts into SEC Country have the Bruins chasing 4-star linebacker Devin Bush Jr., a prospect from Hollywood, Florida's Charles W. Flanagan High School.  

It's a much closer trip for Mora's staff to scout 4-star Lokeni Toailoa of Wilmer Amina Carter in Rialto, California. Toailoa racked up 48 tackles, five tackles for loss and six sacks, per MaxPreps. 

Secondary 

Bruins coaches are hitting defensive back prospects hard for 2016 and aiming high in their pursuit of 5-star safety Eric Monroe. 

Safety is one of the most pressing needs UCLA has for its 2016 signing class, and behind Monroe, the program's staff is also after 4-stars Shurod Thompson and C.J. Pollard. Pollard is another recruit from the Junipero Serra pipeline. 

Among cornerback recruits, 4-star David Long is one to watch. 

Local Flavor

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David Long (Credit: 247Sports)

UCLA's coaching staff is hitting the talent-rich, local landscape hard in their efforts to build the Bruins' 2016 recruiting class. 

Each of their first two commits are from Southern California: Brandt from the Windward School in Los Angeles and Pittman from the same school that produced current Bruins standout Jordan Payton, Oaks Christian. 

Going into high schools UCLA has successfully recruited from before could pay dividends up and down the Bruins' 2016 signing class. In addition to Pittman and the Oaks Christian connection, cornerback prospect Long is from Los Angeles' Loyola High School. The Bruins previously pulled All-American linebacker Anthony Barr from there.  

Winning big locally is paramount for UCLA to continue the recent recruiting success it has enjoyed, even with the program's expansion beyond California's borders. 

Continuing to Build on the Recruiting Trail

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

Since Mora's arrival in 2012, UCLA has consistently been among the Pac-12's best recruiting programs. The Bruins finished with the Pac-12's second-ranked 2015 signing class and No. 7-ranked class nationally. 

At the end of the 2014 regular season, Mora preached the importance of recruiting players who fit the model UCLA is building in pursuit of a conference championship. His most recent signing class matched the vision Mora touted, but the importance of landing such groups is only just beginning. 

With USC gaining traction as a recruiting powerhouse once again, the pressure on Mora to deliver big-time recruits grows exponentially.

Coming off a national signing day on which the Los Angeles schools dominated among Pac-12 programs, Mora and his staff must have an encore prepared for 2016. 

Recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports' composite scores. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited.