UCLA Football Recruiting: Assessing the Quarterback Position

The UCLA football team is in a bit of a precarious spot when it comes to recruiting the quarterback position.

Josh Rosen represents the future—and most likely the present—as the team's signal-caller. Based upon his strong spring-practice performance, according to The Orange County Register's Joey Kaufman, it'd be a bit of shock if he isn't named as the starting quarterback this season.

Theoretically, Rosen would start for the next three years. If he's able to live up to his potential (while avoiding injury), a departure after his junior season would seem likely. While the Bruins should be set in the interim, depth behind Rosen is troublesome.

The only other scholarship options on the roster include Jerry Neuheisel and Asiantii Woulard. A third in Aaron Sharp has since switched from quarterback to receiver.

It's unlikely Neuheisel would ever transfer, should Rosen get the starting nod. Neuheisel grew up in a UCLA family, is from Los Angeles and is a valuable member of the team from a leadership standpoint. In essence, he's the perfect backup quarterback.

Woulard is a more interesting case. Hailing from Florida, the former 4-star prospect hasn't quite put it all together in terms of the mental part of the game. Woulard's physical ability has never been a question. The redshirt sophomore possesses a strong arm and has above-average athleticism.

Regardless, he could opt to transfer closer to home if he isn't named the starting quarterback (Note: This is the author's opinion and is in no way based on tangible evidence).

What does this all mean? Well, it signals the need for signing a quarterback in the 2016 class.

UCLA's apparent top target—4-star prospect Devon Modster—surprisingly opted for Arizona earlier this week. The Bruins appeared to be the favorites to land his services initially, but a late push by Rich Rodriguez and the Wildcats sealed the deal.

As it stands, there are a few options in which UCLA can pivot to.

Ian Book, Matt Fink, Armani Rogers and Max Gilliam all hail from the state of California. The latter three all reside in the southern portion of the state.

Book is a current commitment to Washington State. Both Gilliam and Rogers have committed to Cal, leaving Fink as the lone prospect undecided.

Gilliam is potentially a good fit for the Bruins. Although committed to Cal, his mother went to UCLA. He also lives in Thousand Oaks—an upscale suburb outside of Los Angeles. Gilliam is a heady player with good arm strength and underrated athleticism. A UCLA offer could make things interesting.

Of the four, the potential best bet to become a Bruin is Rogers. A native of Los Angeles, the Hamilton High School product is oozing with upside. At 6'5", he's got very good athleticism and strong arm strength. Rogers is also thought to be a good leader.

Rogers committed to Cal a few months before Gilliam pulled the trigger. The Golden Bears also have a relatively deep depth chart, with Ross Bowers, Chase Forrest and Luke Rubenzer all waiting in the wings behind current starter Jared Goff.

With Cal taking yet another quarterback in this 2016 class, could this impact Rogers' decision?

On Thursday morning, Rogers was on the UCLA campus watching practice. Per Rivals.com reporter Adam Gorney, the Bruins extended an offer to Rogers. Of the four prospects mentioned above, Rogers is the only one with an offer.

The other potential quarterback target is Texas prospect Dillon Sterling-Cole. He was recently offered by UCLA and apparently has some interest. Like Rogers, he's an athletic quarterback with playmaking ability. Due to his smaller size, he's likely more apt to running zone-read plays when compared to Rogers.

Rogers makes the most sense when looking at the entire situation. He's a high-upside player, residing right down the street from the UCLA campus. A more college-ready quarterback likely wouldn't want to sit behind Rosen for a few years. In Rogers' case, taking time to learn the nuances and intricacies of the position would likely serve him well down the line.

For all of the reasons above, Rogers seems like the ideal target for the Bruins in the 2016 class.

Unless noted otherwise, all recruiting information comes from 247Sports.