UCLA Lands Former USC 2017 OLB Commit Javaris Steward

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The push for Javaris Steward to be in the Los Angeles area feels like it has always been there. Steward spent the 2014 season playing in Denton (TX) and committed to USC on Oct. 19 only to decommit later that same day. The outside linebacker/defensive end has since moved to Pomona, California, just outside of LA, and per reports on Thursday, has been a silent commit to UCLA for some time now.

Steward did a little bit of everything for Pomona High School in 2015 rushing six times for 48 yards with one score and caught three passes for 106 yards with another score; through six games of an incomplete stat line. The 6’2”, 244 pound, end is quick off the ball playing with his hand down and an absolute nightmare for most offensive tackles at the high school level, a great fit in UCLA’s 3-4 scheme.

With incomplete stats, through three games Steward had 31 tackles, six sacks, and seven tackles for a loss but even those stats (per MaxPreps) seem way off. Pomona had a stellar season in 2015 going 11-3 making it to the third round of the playoffs before falling 65-26 to Sierra Canyon.

Total offers reported on Steward vary from six extended by Boise State, Colorado, USC, Washington State, Colorado State, and UCLA to 36 self-reported by the California talent. Programs thought to be pushing hard for Steward includes Texas A&M, Michigan, and Oklahoma.

The Bruins are off to a strong start to their 2017 recruiting class with five total commitments, all on the defensive side of the ball.

UCLA Bruins 2017 Verbal Commitment List

DB Rhedi Short, 6-1, 185, Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, CA

DE Hunter Echols, 6-4, 220, Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, CA

DE Javaris Steward, 6-2, 220, Pomona HS, Pomona, CA

LB Jaquan Henderson, 6-1, 198, Newton HS, Covington, GA

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

Photo credit: usatoday.com; No. 6 Javaris Steward at Pomona.