UCLA Football: A Look Back at the Recruiting Class of 2011

When USC was hit with heavy sanctions last June, National Signing Day 2011 looked like a fantastic opportunity for the UCLA football team to stockpile some great talent. Last February, UCLA compiled a top 10 recruiting class according to both Rivals and ESPNU, and Coach Rick Neuheisel added his name to the list of elite recruiters in the nation.

Well, a horrid 4-8 season, capped off by the departure of both offensive and defensive coordinators, did not bode well for UCLA on National Signing Day 2011.

The Bruins ended the day with the 48^th best class according to Rivals, and although it was not on the level of 2010’s elite class, this one has some names to get familiar with.

Here’s a quick look at the 16 new scholarship additions:

Jacob Brendel, C

Damion Driggins/ESPN

Jacob Brendel is a 3-star, top-10 center from Plano, TX. He received offers from some mid-level Big 10 and Big 12 teams, but the Bruins looked like his team from the beginning.

At 6’5”, 265 lbs, he’s already grown an inch and added 20 pounds since he verbally committed to UCLA last July. He’s flashed the ability to be a great interior run blocker and could provide depth at guard. Brendel does well to finish blocks and plays with a lot of intensity, even when he’s over matched. 

He’s got a good frame but needs to be a starting lineman; he needs to add a little more weight. Kai Maiava returns in 2011, meaning Brendel with battle with Greg Capella for backup duties. Could battle Capella for the starting role in 2012.

Brett Hundley, QB

Brett Hundley, the 4-star, top five QB from Chandler, AZ was easily the top grab for the Bruins in 2011. He’s a dual-threat quarterback with the perfect skill set to run a spread offense. He’s an imposing athlete with great size and speed that draws comparisons to Donovan McNabb. Hundley’s got incredible upside and has shown the ability to make passes equally well within the pocket or out on the run.

After winning the passing competition at the Under Armour All-American Skills Challenge, Hundley began classes at UCLA in January and will participate in spring practice.

Hundley should fit in perfectly to new OC Mike Johnson’s offense. He will get the opportunity to compete this spring, but unless he shines, juniors Kevin Prince or Richard Brehaut should retain the starting role. However, Hundley could easily start by the end of the 2011 campaign, though, if we see the same production from the two juniors.

Devin Lucien, WR

Devin Lucien is a 4-star, top 40 WR from Encino, CA. Lucien was one of Neuheisel’s biggest grabs on NSDm as he turned away offers to play at Colorado and Miami to go to the U for UCLA. He’s an explosive playmaker and can be effective as both a short target and deep-threat due to his impressive size and speed. On top of it, scouts have said his biggest plus is his route-running ability.

Although the Bruins’ receiving corps lack all-Pac-10 quality WRs, it’ll be tough for Lucien to crack the starting rotation in 2011. Nelson Rosario, Taylor Embree and Randall Carroll have the edge entering camp, but you can’t count out Notre Dame transfer Shaquelle Evans or return man Josh Smith to make impacts.

As great as Lucien is, a redshirt in 2011 is not out of the question. He could start or at least challenge to start in 2012, though, after Embree and Rosario graduate.

Steven Manfro, RB

Steven Manfro is a 2-star RB out of Valencia, CA. Listed at 5’10”, 185 pounds, Manfro was extremely overlooked when it came to recruiting, receiving scholarship offers from just UCLA and Wyoming. Tough choice, huh?

Coach Neuheisel admits that even he originally dismissed Manfro until watching the New England Patriots’ 5’8”, 195 lb breakout RB Danny Woodhead this postseason and realizing the vast similarities between the two. Manfro is extremely quick, with a 4.42 40 and has shown great body control. He was extremely productive in high school, but many question how he’ll perform on the D-1 level.

The Bruins are stacked at RB right now with Jonathan Franklin leading the way, and don’t forget about the Bruins’ two huge RB recruits from 2010 NSD, Jordan James and Malcolm Jones.

I don’t expect the undersized Manfro to make much of an impact with the Bruins over the next couple years; he may even redshirt in 2011, but Coach Neuheisel sees potential.

Conor McDermott, OT

Conor McDermott is a 2-star project at OT from Nashville, TN. He is walk-on TE Kevin McDermott’s little brother.

Although he played TE in high school, Neuheisel appears to envision him as an offensive tackle. He’s got incredible size at 6’8”, 245 pounds and has a 7’ wingspan, but was actually thought to be more of a basketball prospect coming out of high school.

At this point, McDermott should be viewed solely as a project. Neuheisel expects McDermott to grow up to 300+ pounds within the next couple seasons, and he’s certainly athletic enough to make an impact at offensive tackle. Expect him to battle for playing time in the 2013 season. 

Kevin McReynolds, DT

Kevin McReynolds, a 4-star, top 25 DT out of Washington DC, was one of the most pleasant surprises for the Bruins on NSD. He was heavily recruited by a number of teams but eventually chose the Bruins over Syracuse, Mississippi State and Kansas State.

He’s got a large frame at 6’2”, 276 pounds and is expected to get up to 300 pounds once he gets onto a full offseason workout plan. He’s explosive out of his stance and generates a lot of power from his legs. He can both disrupt quarterbacks with a bull rush and wrap up running backs well, but still needs to work on separating himself from the blocker.

UCLA has some great talent stockpiled at defensive tackle, but McReynolds has the skills to contribute immediately. True freshmen Cassius Marsh and Seali’I Epenesa worked their way into starting positions by the end of the season, and with strong spring camps, should retain their starting spots. I definitely expect McReynolds to push them, though, and if he’s not a starter in 2011, he will be by 2012. 

Raymond Nelson, TE

Raymond Nelson is a 3-star TE out of Modesto, CA. He is the little brother of UCLA basketball star Reeves Nelson.

During Coach Neuheisel’s NSD press conference, he described Raymond as “if you watch Reeves play and imagine him being a tight end, that’s what you get with Raymond”.

I’m giddy. Nelson was one of the fastest rising TE recruits over the past month, receiving offers from nearly every Pac-10 school. Like his older brother, Nelson shows great toughness, and his receiving abilities are quite advanced. He’ll need to work on his run-blocking ability, and with a 6’5”, 238 body, Coach Neuheisel wants him to add at least 10 more pounds.

Starter Cory Harkey, backup Joe Fauria, starting F-back Anthony Barr and John Young all return, looking to make an impact at TE next season, meaning Nelson would greatly benefit from a redshirt. With great pass-catching ability however, Nelson could make for a solid investment in 2013 and on. 

Jerry Neuheisel, QB

Jerry Neuheisel is a 3-star QB out of Los Angeles and the son of head coach Rick Neuheisel. Say what you want, but this had to be expected. Neuheisel also juggled offers from Idaho and UNLV, and his dad said that all the other Pac-10 coaches were prepared to offer scholarships.

As the son of a D-1 coach, Jerry’s got a great head for the game and has all the intangibles you’d want from a QB. The problem is, his skills do not jump off the table. He’s got a small frame for a QB and lacks power as a passer.

With top-recruit Brett Hundley coming in, Neuheisel will grey-shirt in 2011 and join in winter 2012. This will allow Hundley to take all of the freshman snaps during spring and won’t start Neuheisel’s eligibility clock until the 2012 season. I doubt he makes much of an impact on the field during his time with UCLA, but having a smart QB on the sidelines is always a huge plus.

Will Oliver, OL

Will Oliver is a 3-star OL from Brentwood, CA. Oliver was a surprise addition to the UCLA recruiting class, switching his commitment from Sacramento State on NSD. Tough choice there huh?

Oliver is a true project coming out of high school, but at 6’8”, 290 pounds, the Bruins could turn this into a huge steal. In high school, Oliver sat behind three all-league selections until his senior year, where he “crushed” solid guys on De Le Salle, Deer Valley and Pittsburg.

Of all the projects in this 2011 class, Oliver is the one I’m most excited about. As a wrestler in high school, he’ll bulk up even more once he hits the weight room consistently, and from what I’ve heard, he’s got a great attitude. Again, he’s a major project however.

Offensive live coach Bob Palcic has a lot of work to do with Oliver, but he could make an impact down the line with the team. Keep an eye out for his name, but don’t expect starter talk until at least 2013. 

Mike Orloff, LB

Mike Orloff is a 3-star linebacker out of Danvers, MA. Orloff committed to Iowa back in July 2010, but de-committed to join UCLA on NSD. A dual-threat QB and strong safety in high school, Neuheisel hopes to convert Orloff to a hard-hitting outside linebacker for the team. He plays best when he keeps the ball in front of him and has great instincts to read and make plays on the ball carrier. Despite playing in a rather weak league, on film, he still looks to be a great tackler with solid form.

Even with Akeem Ayers out the door to the NFL Draft, Orloff will not get a shot at outside linebacker in 2011. Sean Westgate and Jordan Zumwalt will play full time on the outside, and the linebacker corps is very deep behind them. Orloff is an athlete, and with some help from LB Coach Clark Lea, he could be an impact player down the line. 

Sam Tai, DE

Sam Tai is a 3-star DE out of Henderson, NV, who, like Hundley, committed early and is already attending school at UCLA. Arkansas made a run at Tai as well, but he committed fully to the Bruins back in November.

At 6’4”, 235, Tai desperately needs to bulk up at least 15-20 pounds, and enrolling early at UCLA for spring practices and a college workout program will only help. Tai is very athletic, having played QB in high school and has shown great closing speed on the ball.

Since he took a lot of reps at QB in high school, he certainly needs time to develop his pass rush arsenal into more than just rips inside and work on creating separation from the blocker. His cousin, Haloti Ngata, plays for the Baltimore Ravens, and Tai could certainly learn a thing or two from him.

Tai is very athletic, which will work in his favor as a DE, but until he bulks up to defensive lineman size, he won’t have the chance to contribute much. The Bruins have some great ends in Datone Jones and Owa Odighizuwa with quality backups, so I don’t expect Tai to push for playing time until at least 2013. 

Brandon Tuliaupupu, DT

Brandon Tuliaupupu is a 3-star DT out of Claremont, CA. Originally a Washington State commit, Tuliaupupu switched to the in-conference Bruins on NSD. Reportedly, the Bruins recruited him as an offensive guard, a position he also played in high school, but I anticipate he comes into summer 2011 as a defensive prospect, despite our dire need for offensive linemen.

He’s got great size, reported at 6’2”, 305 on NSD, and he “doesn’t look like he has any fat on him”, according to Coach Neuheisel. He’s powerful coming out of his stance, and although he’s not the type that’ll spend a lot of time in the backfield, he will collapse the pocket with a bull rush and shut down running lanes.

As mentioned earlier, the defensive tackle position is very young but very strong for the Bruins. Both McReynolds and UNC transfer Brandon Willis will challenge Marsh and Epenesa for starting roles before Tuliaupupu will. He’s a solid, not spectacular, defensive tackle and should challenge for playing time in 2012 or 2013. 

Aaron Wallace, LB

Tom Hauck/ESPN

Aaron Wallace Jr., a 3-star outside linebacker out of San Diego, committed back in July 2010 and is currently enrolled at UCLA. Texas A&M, the school where his father was an All-American linebacker, also made a strong run at him before choosing the Bruins. Wallace missed his senior season with a torn ankle ligament, which has made him a slightly under the radar talent.

At 6’3”, 215 pounds, Wallace has room to add more weight, which could make him a force at his position. Since enrolling at UCLA, he’s already added eight pounds from regular college level weight training. As a linebacker against the run, Wallace has great instincts at attacking the ball carrier and doesn’t remain blocked long.

As a cover option, he’s got very quick feet and looks to be able to line up with slot receivers when needed. He’s truly a playmaker. With his incredible blend of speed and strength, Wallace could potentially become the next Akeem Ayers of this defensive unit.

Despite his ability, Wallace is likely to redshirt his freshman year. The Bruins return a very deep linebacker core, especially outside, led by Jordan Zumwalt and Sean Westgate. Redshirt or not, keep your eye out for him because with a little added muscle on his frame and a little more experience, Wallace could potentially enter 2012 with a starting spot.

Torian White, OT

Torian White is a 3-star OT out of Lakewood, CA. A UCLA commit since June 2010, White shocked the Bruins on NSD by announcing that he would play ball for USC, only to recommit later in the afternoon, signing his Letter of Intent with UCLA.

White has great size at 6’5”, 275 pounds but still needs to add on some bulk to his frame. White has great quickness, ideal for a tackle, but still needs to work on his strength and technique. Although he’s still very raw, White’s athleticism bodes well for his development into the top lineman from this class.

The Bruins return both offensive tackles from last season, Mike Harris and sixth-year Sean Sheller, but based on the offensive line’s play last year, no one’s spot has been secured yet. It’s highly unlikely that Coach Neuheisel opts to go with a true freshman on the end, and White would greatly benefit from a year of refining his skills.

With the departure of both Harris and Sheller in 2012, however, White could be ready for starting duties.

Ben Wysocki, OG

Ben Wysocki is a 3-star, top-50 offensive guard out of Los Alamitos, CA. Wysocki received offers from Stanford and Oregon State as well but he was set on the Bruins from the beginning. In just the last couple months, he’s already grown from 6’4”, 270 pounds up to 6’5”, 297, great size for an offensive lineman.

After playing tackle at the high school level, his skill set projects best as a guard at the college level. He explodes out of his stance well and is athletic enough to run block with the best of them. Wysocki has quick feet and has shown the ability to gain leverage on defenders consistently.

Wysocki is definitely the most D-1 ready of all the 2011 offensive line recruits. Despite the inconsistency at guard last season, 2009 starter Jeff Baca and Stanley Hasiak return from academic ineligibility in 2011 and look to be starters coming out of camp. Wysocki could fill in as a backup in 2011 and 2012 and will look to compete for a full time role no later than 2013.  

Ryan Hofmeister, LB

Ryan Hofmesiter is a JUCO transfer, 3-star outside linebacker from Riverside, CA. Hofmeister’s productive play at Riverside CC landed him offers to Kansas State and Colorado as well. Hofmeister plans to enroll at UCLA in spring quarter and will participate in spring practice with the team. He’s got a great motor and shows great tackle-finishing ability. He’s already shown that he’s a talented special teams contributor, and Neuheisel will definitely look for him out the gate.

As mentioned previously, the linebacker corps for the Bruins has a lot of great talent stockpiled. Hofmeister is a versatile athlete and built perfectly as a kickoff/punt-coverage specialist. With a little more weight on his 6’2”, 220 pound frame, Hofmeister could see regular defensive time down the line depending on the schemes, but nonetheless should be able to contribute right away in 2011.