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UCLA Football: 3 Recruits Bruins Should Focus On From Among 2024 Class

UCLA football has been leveraging the transfer portal well, but recruiting remains a challenge
Matt Solorio|
UCLA Football: 3 Recruits Bruins Should Focus On From Among 2024 Class
UCLA Football: 3 Recruits Bruins Should Focus On From Among 2024 Class

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With the exception of Dante Moore (2023), UCLA hasn't landed a certified blue-chip prospect in the past five cycles. In an era where the top programs like Georgia and Alabama consistently attract home-run prospects, UCLA hasn't been keeping up. 

They have been masterful in their handling of the transfer portal, adding players like Carson Steele from Ball State and Gabriel Murphy from North Texas, who have come in and been immediate difference-makers. But the long-term success of any enterprise, in large part, relies on its ability to attract talent.

247Sports has UCLA's 2024 class ranked 57th in the country with just 12 commits. They lack in both volume and talent, depending on how much one trusts in 247 Sport's ability to scout. 

As Pac-12 league play winds down with the Big 10 move looming, The Bruins would do well to sure up their inaugural freshman class for their first year in the Big 10. So, what players should they target? We highlighted three players that might be good to focus on. 

Three Recruits UCLA Should Target For Their 2024 Recruiting Class

#3: Bountiful (Bountiful, UT) Safety Faletau Satuala

UCLA offered Faletau Satuala in January, and he officially visited UCLA in May. Coming in at 6-3 195-pounds, Satuala might be the best prospect coming out of Utah this year. Satuala's got natural athleticism and plays a ton of different positions. He's a three-sport athlete with great hips + size. UCLA has to beat out competing offers from In-State BYU, a plethora of Pac-12 offers, along with Tennessee and Vanderbilt. He's definitely a recruit UCLA ought to pay attention to.

#2: Centerville (Dayton, OH) Safety Reggie Powers

Reggie Powers put together a terrific film for us to review during this process. He projects as a box safety at the next level due to his physicality as a defensive back. He has a nose for the football and packs a big punch when tackling. According to 247 Sports, he is visiting UCLA this weekend for the Bruins' matchup against Deion Sander's Colorado Buffaloes. He would make a big impact on the UCLA defense in special teams his first year and hopefully develop into a starter as UCLA enters the comparatively run-heavy Big 10

#1: Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, AZ) Edge Defender Elijah Rushing

One of the most sure-fire prospects in the 2024 class, Elijah Rushing has plenty of offers to choose from. He recently re-opened his recruitment after verbally committing to Arizona. Prior to his decommitment, he listed UCLA as on of his top schools. The Bruin defense has been solid all season (14.8 points allowed per game), thanks in large part to the defensive ends Laiatu Latu and Gabriel Murphy. Rushing is a can't-miss prospect at a premium position. He is being recruited, heavily, from across the country. Landing Rushing would be a huge recruiting win for UCLA.

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Matt Solorio
MATT SOLORIO

Matt Solorio is a UCLA Bruins On SI reporter/analyst covering football recruiting, NIL, and other topics. He is also a Recruiting Analyst for Sports Illustrated All-American and an editor at SugarAndSports.com. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he brings a technical approach to his coverage of football recruits. He played defensive end at City College of San Francisco, coached at Archbishop Riordan HS (San Francisco, Calif) and is committed to providing UCLA fans with interesting, informative, and engaging content. 

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