UCLA targets make waves in the new Rivals250
Rivals.com released a new set of rankings this week, rolling out the official Rivals250 on Tuesday morning. Plenty of UCLA targets made some waves in the new round of rankings; here were the notables.
Commits slide down
Advertisement
It wasn't a great summer for most of UCLA's commitments, and consequently, nearly all of them who were in the Rivals250 in June's round of rankings slid in this week's.
The biggest faller was four-star linebacker Lokeni Toailoa, who dropped 152 spots to No. 228 after failing to show he's not just a c-gap to c-gap player. Receiver Darian Owens also fell far, moving from No. 121 to No. 146, because he failed to catch the ball well all summer long.
Breland Brandt, known for his pass-rushing, tried to play inside linebacker this summer and didn't look good. He too fell drastically, moving from No. 38 to No. 78.
Dymond Lee, who played quarterback most of the summer rather than his likely future position of receiver, dropped eight spots to No. 143.
It wasn't all doom and gloom for the commitments in the rankings, however. D-lineman Wole Betiku cracked the top 40, coming in at No. 36. Four-star linebacker Krys Barnes also jumped up, moving from No. 130 to No. 105.
Where'd the leans end up?
UCLA has several prospects leaning toward committing to the school, and many of them are scattered across this round of rankings.
Receiver Theo Howard landed at No. 32. Athlete Brandon Burton came in at No. 47. Receiver Damian Alloway stayed put at No. 110. Receiver Steffon McKnight came in at No. 188. And finally, defensive lineman Boss Tagaloa surprisingly stayed in the 100s, coming in at No. 128.
Just missed the cut
While UCLA had six commits and five leans in the Rivals250, it had a few possible Bruins that just missed the cut as well.
DB Troy Warner, OL Alex Akingbulu, DE Bryson Young, OL Michael Alves and TE Thaddeus Moss came in just a few steps away from the big 250.
Other notables
-There's a new No. 1 in this week's rankings, with quarterback Shea Patterson earning the spot. UCLA has flirted with him this summer, and he has responded, but the odds of him committing to UCLA look to be between zero and zero.
-Coveted UCLA linebacker target Mique Juarez not only held down his spot as No. 1 in California, but he moved into the top five in the country as well, coming in at No. 5 overall.
-Coveted UCLA ATH target Jack Jones continued his press for a fifth star, coming in at No. 37 overall.
-Running back commit Jalen Starks is nowhere near the Rivals250, but he did earn his third star in this round of rankings.
-Two former Bruin pledges, Jordan Parker and Michael Pittman, landed in the top 160. Pittman fell 17 spots to No. 158 while Parker moved up four spots to No. 108 after their respective decommitments.
-UCLA receiver Devin Fuller's little brother Jordan Fuller just missed the Rivals250 but held on to his four-star ranking.