Class of 2023 DB Ethan O’Connor Decommits From UCLA Football

The Bruins have lost one of their outstanding commits from the most recent recruiting cycle.

Class of 2023 defensive back Ethan O'Connor has decommitted from UCLA football, he announced Tuesday night on Instagram. O'Connor had been committed to the Bruins since Oct. 25, but the Los Alamitos (CA) prospect notably did not ink a national letter of intent with the school when the signing periods rolled around in December or February.

O'Connor said he is reopening his recruitment, and that he will be announcing his new decision soon.

O'Connor is a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN and On3. In the 247Sports Composite, O'Connor is ranked as the No. 60 player in California, the No. 42 athlete in the country and the No. 670 overall prospect in his class.

As a senior at Los Alamitos, O'Connor recorded 23 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptions across 11 games. O'Connor also added 298 yards and five touchdowns on 18 receptions on the other side of the ball.

Although he is listed under the general term "athlete" by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN, O'Connor is a cornerback by trade. The other athletes joining the Bruins this year are Isaiah Carlson and Donavyn Pellot, who are slated to play running back and linebacker, respectively.

Three-star St. John Bosco (CA) safety RJ Jones is the only true defensive back remaining in UCLA's 2023 recruiting class, considering their other incoming three-star St. John Bosco safety – Ty Lee – was labeled as a linebacker on signing day. The Bruins' recruiting class now ranks No. 46 in the country and No. 9 in the Pac-12, according to the 247Sports Composite, with only 13 commits out of the high school ranks.

UCLA added three defensive backs in its 2022 class, but four-star Kamari Ramsey, three-star Clint Stephens and three-star Croix Stewart were all brought in as safeties.

As a result, the Bruins have now gone two straight classes without securing a single true cornerback. The staff did not bring in any transfer cornerbacks this offseason either, and one of the two they added last year – Azizi Hearn – exhausted his eligibility and just signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent.

The remaining scholarship cornerbacks are Devin Kirkwood, Jaylin Davies, Isaiah Newcombe and John Humphrey, with Stewart coming over to add depth in spring camp.

UCLA ranked No. 11 in the Pac-12 last season in opponent passing yards per game and opponent completion percentage. Former graduate assistant Kodi Whitfield has joined the staff as cornerbacks coach and former Baltimore Ravens safeties coach has replaced Bill McGovern as defensive coordinator, but the cornerback depth chart boasts plenty of holes and no fresh blood at the moment.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ETHAN O’CONNOR/INSTAGRAM