UCLA lands 2017 linebacker commitment

Jaquan Henderson made it out to UCLA for a visit this past spring. Coming from a smaller city in Georgia, that trip to L.A. really opened his eyes.

So much so, the 2017 three-star linebacker came home and told his mom he had a feeling UCLA would be his future school.

"It was just amazing. It was really amazing," Henderson said of his UCLA visit. "I came home and I told my mom like, 'Mom, I really do want to go to UCLA.'"

Henderson decided to wait out the summer and consider some other options. But on Thursday night, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound backer just couldn't wait any longer.

He called Scott White and committed.

"He was very happy because for the longest he's been wanting me to commit," Henderson said of UCLA's linebacker coach. "Me being down here, it's sort of far, and he was sort of like nervous that if I do decide to commit, he was nervous that I was going to decommit because it's so far. But me being the guy that I am, I like to stay through things. There's no place like California. No place."

Henderson said his decision ultimately came down to UCLA, Indiana and Kentucky. The draw of California, though, was too much for other programs to overcome.

"That's the best spot I've ever been before," Henderson said.

The Covington (Ga.) Newton linebacker projects himself to be a pass rusher at UCLA, although he said he "can cover" as well.

Henderson is looking to visit Los Angeles again later this fall for a UCLA game at the Rose Bowl. He said other college visits are possibly on the schedule over the next 16 or so months until Signing Day 2017, but right now, he just can't envision a scenario of leaving his Bruin pledge.

"A lot of people say it's a long ways, but I like to experience new things," Henderson said. "I want to be far away from home - as far as possible from home. That's a great place for me. I'm 100 percent that I'm going to go to UCLA."