Top Five Impact Class of 2017 Recruits for UCLA Bruins

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The Bruins staff may not have secured all of the talent desired out of the 2017 class they targeted but of the players they did ink on National Signing Day it was a really strong class. In total, UCLA signed 18 players finishing with a 247Sports ranking of No. 20 in the nation and a Rivals final positioning at No. 21. If star ranking power is a factor, the Bruins class was much stronger than the rankings show.

UCLA’s crosstown rival, USC, got top honors in the Pac-12 signing 24 commits with two 5-star players and four 12-star talents. The rankings can start a healthy debate after USC. Stanford was No. 2 signing 14 in all with three 5-stars and six 4-stars. Oregon was slotted third with 24 commits, no 5-stars but five 4-stars and 19- 3-star players. The Bruins star ranking power was third in the Pac-12 by both 247Sports (88.7 percent) and Rivals (3.44 star average ranking). 247Sports had UCLA with two 5-stars, five 4-stars, and 10- 3-stars while Rivals had a slight difference with two 5-stars, six 4-stars, and eight 3-stars.

What UCLA fans will be most happy to know, the staff picked up some amazing talent that should contribute from Day 1. The list of potential players who could make an impact is long, but the top players who could and should have been narrowed down to five.

Top Five Impact Players for UCLA out of the 2017 Recruiting Class

DE Jaelan Phillips, 6-5, 235, Redlands East Valley HS, Redlands, CA – 5-Star

No matter the media outlet, Phillips was a Top 10 player in the country with 247Sports tabbing him as their overall No. 1 regardless of position. Phillips is that freak athlete who is big, strong, and can run like a deer. Listed at 6-5, 235 pounds, Phillips is a game changer up front that can take up two blockers and a chip from a running back freeing up space for other defenders to make a play. He has a wide-array of moves and long arms to keep linemen off of him and to deflect passes at the line of scrimmage.

The U.S. Army All-American jumped into national prominence on the recruiting trail during his junior season racking up 87 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and three interceptions. He did not hold back in 2016 with 142 tackles, 21 sacks, and forced three fumbles.

CB Darnay Holmes, 5-10, 190, Calabasas HS, Calabasas, CA – 5-Star

Another consensus 5-star player heading to Westwood in 2017. The 5-10, 190 pound, speedster was a Top 4 corner in the nation, rated No. 3 by 247Sports. Calabasas High School used Holmes all over the field on the way to a 14-1 2016 season featuring him in the passing attack pulling in 69 passes for 1,214 yards with 14 scores. On defense, opposing California offense knew better than to test him. He stopped 30 plays from his corner position and broke up two passes. Opportunities for picks just did not come his way.

Holmes has made the rounds at all of the big camps and at the U.S. Army All-American game. He has more than held his own against the best within his peer group. The Bruins had two senior starters on the roster in 2016, Fabian Moreau and Marcus Rios, leaving an open battle in Westwood. Playing in a passing conference like the Pac-12, a defensive coordinator can never have too many cover corners. Expect Holmes to get on the field early and show what he’s got.

TE Jimmy Jaggers, 6-4, 244, Roseville HS, Roseville, CA – 4-Star

Jaggers fine-tuned his run blocking skills with Roseville High School but rarely got a chance to show what he could do in the passing game. Scouting 7v7 tournaments, Jaggers has the hands and bulldozer mentality to help move the chains and get yards after the catch at the next level. In a balanced offense with the Bruins, Jaggers should have an opportunity to truly flourish. Listed at 6-4, 244 pounds, Jaggers has the size to lineup with the Bruins from the opening kickoff as an every down player.

Helping Jaggers chances of seeing the field early, the Bruins also lost another starter to graduation off the 2016 squad, Nate Iese, and he was an early enrollee.

CB Jaylan Shaw, 5-11, 170, Centennial HS, Corona, CA – 3-Star

Don’t let the 3-star ranking fool you with Jaylan Shaw. Shaw is one of those quiet assassin type of guys who blankets a receiver and delivers a big hit in run support. The 5-11, 170 pound, talent was one of the leaders on defense for Centennial High School, a team that finished ranked No. 8 in the country (MaxPreps). Shaw has squared off against the best IMG Academy (FL), St. John Bosco (CA), and Chandler (AZ) had to offer, among others, during his senior season. The 3-star had 64 total stops in 2016 with eight passes broken up and five interceptions.

DT Greg Rogers, 6-3, 305, Arbor View HS, Las Vegas, NV – 4-Star

Rogers is another intriguing recruit the Bruins picked up. At 6-3, 305 pounds, Rogers may not have the heft to play nose guard in UCLA’s 3-4 defense right now, but one has to believe that as soon as he is on campus the strength and conditioning program will get him ready to contribute right away. Rogers may be needed with the graduation loss of Eli Ankou.

The Under Armour All-American was a beast for Arbor View during his junior year stopping 64 plays with 17 tackles for a loss and six sacks. Rogers did not disappoint in 2016 helping the Aggies to a 10-2 record with 59 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, and six sacks.

UCLA Bruins 2017 Verbal Commitment List (18)

CB Elijah Gates, 5-10, 170, Buena Park HS, Buena Park, CA

CB Darnay Holmes, 5-10, 190, Calabasas HS, Calabasas, CA

CB Quentin Lake, 6-1, 180, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, CA

CB Jaylan Shaw, 5-11, 170, Centennial HS, Corona, CA

DE Odua Isibor, St. Mary’s HS, Phoenix, AZ

LB/DE Rahyme Johnson, 6-4, 196, Salesian HS, Los Angeles, CA

DE Jaelan Phillips, 6-5, 235, Redlands East Valley HS, Redlands, CA

DT Martin Andrus, 6-1, 280, Los Angeles Senior, Los Angeles, CA

DT Greg Rogers, 6-3, 305, Arbor View HS, Las Vegas, NV

OC Zachary Sweeney, 6-3, 270, St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FL

OG Kanan Ray, 6-4, 275, Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, CA

OG Sean Seawards, 6-4, 320, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, AZ

OG Jax Wacaser, 6-5, 260, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, AZ

OT Stephan Zabie, 6-5, 290, Westlake HS, Austin, TX

TE Jimmy Jaggers, 6-4, 244, Roseville HS, Roseville, CA

TE Moses Robinson-Carr, 6-4.5, 240, Antelope Valley, Lancaster, CA

QB Austin Burton, 6-3, 203, West Orange HS, Winter Garden, FL

ATH Morrell Osling, 6-1, 170, Antelope Valley, Lancaster, CA

 

Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Darnay Holmes at the Nike LA Regional (2016).