Right now, with 17 verbal commits, what is UCLA's biggest recruiting need?

Jon, can you post the commits and their positions in one quick list? thanks

I doubt that there are many players left that would have an impact next year (especially on either line) so really I look to what is needed in 2011. The needs are still pretty much the same as 2010 but there are a lot of Jrs on the depth chart for D line that will need to be replaced, preferably with this class.

While I would love to have all the other big names commit and sign with UCLA, our biggest need is STUD DT's. That means TWO of them. Look what we were able to do with BP and Jerzy clogging up the middle. I am content that we have garnered commits from Washington stud J-Moore (though I admit I do not know much about him), and Fresno's Wesley Flowers, I still see a MAJOR need in landing Uko AND Heimuli, nationally acclaimed studs!!! Our D success depends on how well we play up front stopping the run- anyone recall our five game losing streak? Playmaking LB's and hyper-athletic DB's are there for support. CRN and CCB have got to land those DT's! All is should follow...

Biggest NEED

1.LB
2.DT
3.DE/OL
4.DBs(depth)

Now saying that. i would love to finish with
1.Pullard
2.Barr
3.Uko
4.Heimuli
5.Owa
6.Riley
7.Woods
8.Yandell

Derrick Bryant DE 6-4 230 4.55 5.6 Columbus, OH
Wesley Flowers DT 6-4 250 - 5.6 Fresno, CA
Kody Innes OL 6-5 280 4.9 5.8 Scottsdale, AZ
Marquis Jackson DE 6-4 240 - 5.8 Santa Clarita, CA
Jordon James RB 5-10 190 4.4 5.9 Corona, CA
Malcolm Jones ATH 6-1 210 4.6 5.9 Westlake Village, CA
Eric Kendricks LB 6-1 205 4.6 5.6 Fresno, CA
Tevin McDonald DB 5-11 177 - 5.6 Fresno, CA
Julious Moore DT 6-1 260 - 5.7 Bellevue, WA
Brett Nottingham QB 6-4 210 - 5.9 Danville, CA
Aramide Olaniyan LB 6-2 202 4.51 5.8 Woodberry Forest, VA
Paul Richardson WR 6-2 185 4.5 5.8 Gardena, CA
Shaquille Richardson DB 6-2 170 - 5.7 Los Alamitos, CA
Kip Smith K 6-1 200 - 5.5 Broomfield, CO
Earnest Thomas DB 6-2 195 4.59 5.7 Orchard Lake, MI
Chris Ward OL 6-4 285 5.3 5.8 Santa Ana, CA
John Young TE 6-4 225 4.7 5.6 Los Angeles, CA

Charlie Bucket was trolling on Inside USC this morning.

VB'S Cat-

I would agree with your list, but flip-flop #'s 1 & 2...And I admire your "wish-list!" After all, aren't the holidays a time for gluttony?! GO BRUINS!!!

With Kai Maiava academically ineligible, I'd say Center is the most pressing need! What, didn't he go to class?

There is no doubt Defensive Tackle is the #1 need. No question about it. The depth there is downright scary especially since Brian Price is as good as gone!

I'd like to see UCLA get another OT and some impact safeties as well.

Jon, do you have any news on Maiava?

Thanks UCLAVES for posting the recruit list!!!

Is UCLA recruiting DeAnthony Thomas out of Crenshaw? What are the chances of getting him?

Yes they are recruiting "DeAnthony Thomas" but he is a 2011 guy, so still plenty of time before we know where he goes for sure.

lose 5 key players on offense? Are you kidding me Jon?
Addition by subtraction is the keyword. I can't imagine that by next year we can't find a couple of players to replce Chane Moline and Logan Paulson. Josh Smith will make up for Austin i nspades and Fauria for Paulson and Moya is a trade up also.

that being said Mike Chat, defense is definitely the need right now. Dline and LBs.

Huitzilopochtli

He will miss the bowl game only. He will be eligible by next season.

wait, what? we have to replace Craft too? oh, the horror...! And, for the realists here, let's agree that we're not getting Woods, Uko or likely Riley, ok?

Hey, SpedJones-

Until I see otherwise, I'm going to choose to believe we are still in the running for top talents such as Uko/Woods/Riley. I thought you were a BRUIN fan?! Why don't you go elsewhere with your pessimism and root for the football programs of UCSB, Pacific, or Cal State Fullerton?!

spedjones said:
wait, what? we have to replace Craft too? oh, the horror...! And, for the realists here, let's agree that we're not getting Woods, Uko or likely Riley, ok?

Didn't think we were in it for Su'a Filo or Hasiak last year either. I would think there is a bettors chance to land Uko Heimuli for early playing time sake. I think it is less than 50-50, but I do not think it is much less. Of course I didn't think James and Jones would both commit this year.

in judging needs, i think you need to look at 2011 and 2012. the kids we bring in with this class will most likely not make an impact until then. for our CURRENT needs, we need to have guys already in the program ready to take over at the start of next season.

i agree that with the way recruiting works now, anything can happen up and until letters of intent are actually signed in february. lastly, i think you have to keep the recruiting hype in perspective. for every 4 and 5 star recruit that pans out, there are a lot of others that flame out. highly ranked recruiting classes don't ensure success.

rooting for is not the same as blindly dreaming for. I've been right more times than not this year and I'll stand by my predictions until proven wrong. I'm hoping I'm wrong too, but don't think so.

Is Neuheisal considering moving Keenan Graham to Linebacker?