Free Preview: Incoming Freshman Elloit Vallejo

UCLA had bad news this summer when two offensive linemen with much promise had to call it a career because of injuries. One player John Ream was the projected starting center and the other Collin Barker was working his was into the two-deep.

The landing of Elliot Vallejo (6-8, 270, 5.0) from Salinas (Calif.) Palma is now even more important. Obviously depth could be a problem along the offensive line. Maybe a freshman may be called on to help this season.

Vallejo has been working very hard to this summer to get in shape and be ready if duty calls.

“I followed the workout program that UCLA sent me and did so religiously everyday until the All-Star games I played in,” Vallejo said.

Vallejo played in the North-South California Shrine All-Star game and he also played in a local all-star game.

“I had to do the work outs that the all-star coaches had for us,” Vallejo said. “My running was pretty much restricted to what we did in practice as well.”

Before the all-star games interrupted Vallejo’s work out regimen, he was able to get his 40-yard dash time down below 5-flat.

There was a time that Vallejo was headed to Arizona as he committed to the Wildcats first.

As a matter of fact, Vallejo almost never made his trip to the campus in Westwood.

“It was tough and go if I was even going to visit,” Vallejo said. “I even canceled my flight to Los Angeles because the coach that was recruiting me for Arizona was so upset.”

“At the last minute my family and I drove down and the rest is history.”

“UCLA had everything I was looking for in a school,” Vallejo said. “When I visited the school it just felt right.”

“I loved the atmosphere in Westwood,” Vallejo said. “It is a little closer to home than Arizona and I really liked the UCLA coaches.”

With the loss of two offensive linemen will you be ready to play?

“I am always ready for challenge and if I called upon I will respond,” said Vallejo.

This is what BruinBlitz had to say about the talented Mr. Vallejo in our LOI wrap-up:

OL Elliot Vallejo (6-7, 291, 5.0) from Salinas-Palma (CA) saw his stock soar his senior season. Elliot’s stock rose more than any other offensive lineman due to his senior campaign. Elliot was one of the main reasons his team won back-to-back Division 1 CCS championships. The Bruins get a player with super potential here. Selected 1st-team All-State.

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