Stephan Zabie stuns Texas, picks UCLA
The first announcement of ESPNU's National Signing Day special ended up being the best one for UCLA.
In a stunning upset over Texas and Ole Miss, four-star Austin (Texas) Westlake offensive tackle Stephan Zabie announced his commitment to the Bruins.
"I would like to announce my commitment to the University of California, Los Angeles; UCLA. Fours up, baby," he said while putting on a UCLA hat and revealing a UCLA shirt. "I've always been an ambitious kid. I've always been adventurous, and Westwood, to me is the key to my success. It's one of those places I can go there and excel on the field and off the field."
Zabie's road to UCLA was a wild one. Because he transferred schools his sophomore year, Zabie sat out. He played his entire junior year at Westlake, but then was forced to sit out again in his senior year because of academics/eligibility issues.
UCLA, waiting to make sure Zabie's transcripts would work for them in Westwood, sent him an official offer just a few weeks ago once it got the OK that he'd be cleared to make it in. Apparently all it took was an official visit just a few days later to seal the deal.
Zabie, despite UCLA having no O-line coach on that trip (the Bruins had just fired Adrian Klemm and were in the process of bringing in Hank Fraley) and only holding an offer for a handful of days, felt that was enough to pick the Bruins over the hometown Longhorns.
"The networking is great and it was the best decision for me and my family," Zabie said. "I'm excited to go out there and work and be a baller."
To say Zabie's commitment to the Bruins is huge would be an understatement. UCLA has five O-line commitments now, but three of them -- Sean Seawards, Zack Sweeney, Jax Wacaser -- are considered long-term, project interior OL. Zabie is the lone tackle commitment for the Bruins, and at 6 feet 6, 290 pounds with great feet and athleticism, he's a high-upside one to boot.
The Bruins are now up to 18 pledges in the class and cracked the top 20 in the nation with Zabie's commitment.