Three-star defensive end Keona Wilhite left his weekend official visit to UCLA with a sense of the Bruins’ “strong family vibe” between the players and coaches.

“When they interacted with each other, you can see that there's a strong bond between them,” Wilhite told Bruin Blitz on Monday.

The Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe product was part of a big recruiting weekend with 2024 visitors that included four-star teammate Elijah Rushing, who left Westwood impressed with the program’s “NFL environment.”

Wilhite, like Rushing, said his strongest connection on the staff is with UCLA outside linebackers/defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe, who offered him a scholarship April 21.