UCLA Extends Offers to Two NFL Academy Prospects

UCLA is going searching for international talent on the recruiting trail, extending offers to two prospects from the NFL Academy.

UCLA's Ezavier Staples, center, holds up a Michigan State towel while celebrating with the team after the Bruins win over Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While Tim Skipper has done an awesome job as interim head coach after UCLA parted ways with DeShaun Foster, it's still a challenge for the Bruins to convince recruits to come to Westwood without a permanent head coach.

When Foster was fired, the Bruins saw 11 players decommit from their 2026 class. To add talent on the recruiting trail, Skipper and his staff are taking unique approaches, including sending offers to two international players from the NFL Academy.

UCLA's interim head coach Tim Skipper celebrates after a Bruins touchdown against Michigan State during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The NFL Academy is a program run by the NFL that gives international athletes the chance to play high-level American football and often sends those athletes to the college level. Since its inception in 2019, more than 40 athletes have secured college football scholarships in the United States.

On October 15, the Bruins extended offers to two prospects from the NFL Academy: Joel Queisser, a 2026 linebacker from Düsseldorf, Germany, and Augustine Irek, a 2027 defensive lineman from Cross River State, Nigeria.

Oct 12, 2025; Tottenham, United Kingdom; The British, NFL shield logo and United States flags during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Both Queisser and Irek shared on X that their UCLA offers came after a conversation with Bruins general manager Khary Darlington.

Queisser wrote, "After a great conversation with Khary Darlington, I am blessed to announce that I received an offer from UCLA Football!"

#agtg
After a great conversation with Khary Darlington, I am blessed to announce that I received an offer from @UCLAFootball! @CoachTSkip @CoachWhiteEra @ThomasMiloe @danieldf211 @coachstevehagen @KrisDurham16 @chasebaker91 pic.twitter.com/xPLl5IZC9V

— Joel Queisser (@JoelQueisser) October 15, 2025

While Irek said, "All Glory To God!! After a great conversation with Khary Darlington, I am grateful to announce that I received an offer from UCLA Football!!

All Glory To God!!
After a great conversation with Khary Darlington, I am grateful to announce that i received an offer from @UCLAFootball !! @OsiUmenyiora @KrisDurham16 @CoachWhiteEra @CoachTSkip @ThomasMiloe @danieldf211 @chasebaker91 @NFLAcademy @coachstevehagen pic.twitter.com/9QNgFV9qoh

— Augustine Irek (@Augustine5899) October 16, 2025

Neither Irek nor Queisser is a highly touted recruit. Neither has star ratings on 247Sports, and UCLA is both of their first Division I offers. However, Darlington and the rest of the Bruins' recruiting staff are at a point where they need to get creative in terms of their recruiting strategy. Especially in Queisser's case, since he's a 2026 prospect.

UCLA currently only has 11 commits in the 2026 cycle, and according to 247Sports, its class ranks 81st in the country. With so many players decommitting following Foster's firing, the Bruins are in desperate need of adding talent late in the cycle.

Nov 30, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins helmets during pregame warmups before playing the Fresno State Bulldogs at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Offering international prospects who are getting high-end football training at a place like the NFL Academy allows UCLA to target underrated and under-valued recruits, which they are all but guaranteed to land.

It's also apparent that the strategy has opened the door for the Bruins to get eyes on other NFL Academy prospects, as seen with their offer to Irek, who's only a 2027 recruit.

UCLA's Jalen Berger runs the ball against Michigan State during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It will be interesting to see if the program continues to use resources like the NFL Academy for the rest of the 2026 cycle and beyond.

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI and @cmorenoNBA to keep up with every story surrounding UCLA athletics!

Please let us know your thoughts on this when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.