UCLA Football: 3-Star OL Prospect Schedules Official Visit

New UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster is on the hunt for some reinforcements.

Since fully putting together his staff, there's been a general shift in recruitng effort compared to the former set-up instituted by Chip Kelly. This group of assistants has been uber-aggressive in getting prospects on campus. This includes having them watch Spring Football, and also working hard to set up official visits for the upcoming months.

The diligence has paid off in a big way, both literally and figuratively. 2025 OL prospect Demetri Manning announced via his personal X account that he will be taking an official visit to UCLA from May 17-19.

Can’t wait to get down there @UCLAFBRecruit #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/H2wy3t1Mb2
— Demetri Manning (@Demetri_manning) April 8, 2024

Hailing from the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Manning, listed at 6'7" and 340 pounds, appears to be favoring a trio of Arkansas, Miami, and UCLA. Being the only West Coast school in this scenario has to be a positive for the Bruins. The program has had a history of success with players hailing from the state of Washington. Duly, depth along the offensive line is rather thin at the moment (particulalrly at tackle).

You can't teach size, and Manning has plenty of it. He's worked hard at diligently shedding bad weight and reshaping his body to become a more college-ready player. When looking for an NFL comparison, former Minnesota Vikings OL Phil Loadholt appears to be a similar type player.

Heard that UCLA had nearly 1,500 guests come through the football facility during the entirety of the first week of spring camp. Momentum appears to be building in Westwood…
— Tracy McDannald 📎 (@Tracy_McDannald) April 6, 2024

The fact Manning is visiting the campus on an official visit is a major plus for the Bruins. Foster had had to work hard to change the narrative around the program. Under Kelly, the Bruins were overly selective when pursuing prospects. It got to a point where the staff was downright lazy.

However, Foster's newfound energy in the realm of recruitng has UCLA now in the mix for a plethora of very talented players.

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