In two months, UCLA's fortunes change completely
Less than two months ago, UCLA's 2012 recruiting class looked just about dead in the water. There was quantity but little quality, and most scouting services had the class ranked in the middle of the Pac-12.
Flash forward to Wednesday, and it seems as if two months is an eternity.
Bolstered by a coaching staff full of energetic recruiters, Jim L. Mora and Co. took to the home stretch down a lap and chugged along, bringing the Bruins' class up from the depths.
By the time Mora addressed the media on Wednesday after 25 prospects had signed with UCLA, he looked spent.
For good reason: In just seven weeks, the Bruins turned a forgettable future into one peaking with promise, ranked in the top-12 nationally by both Scout.com and Rivals.com.
"We're tired; it's been a long process," Mora conceded. "We had a lot of ground to catch up, a lot of ground to make up, but we hit it pretty hard. I don't know if we're satisfied at this point."
With a haul that includes the top defensive lineman in the west, No. 2-rated Ellis McCarthy of Monrovia, and the No. 3 quarterback in the nation in Old Tappan, New Jersey's Devin Fuller, perhaps some satisfaction is in order.
The Bruins addressed gaping needs at wide receiver - particularly with a signing day bonanza that included 15th-ranked Jordan Payton out of Oaks Christian - linebacker and defensive back. UCLA also fortified its offensive line with five commitments, including early enrollee junior college offensive tackle Alexandru Ceachir.
"When you think about where the Bruins were the night they carried Rick Neuheisel off the field on that cold blustery night and where they are now on Feb. 1, there's not too many people like us who follow the program that this was going to happen," said Rick Kimbrel of Rivals.com. "What they did is phenomenal. And to think they only did it in five weeks."
The Bruins were cover ground quickly because Mora identified and targeted a group of coaches who had already built relationships with many of the players who would eventually become UCLA signees. Only six of Rick Neuheisel's 16 verbal commitments ultimately signed with the Bruins on Wednesday, though some were offered greyshirts but ultimately declined.
For the new UCLA coaches, the pitches changed, but the connections did not.
"It's a trying situation but the main thing you do is you get in on them and you be straight truthful," said new defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin, whose close family connection is considered a primary reason tha the Bruins landed McCarthy. "Brrutal honesty is what I call it. Some may take to it, but at the end of the day, everybody will be able to go to sleep knowing you have good karma."
McCarthy's signing alone was proof that UCLA had not angered the gods, as he provides the team's top overall recruit in more than a decade, a bonafide superstar up front.
"What UCLA really needed to address was an elite defensive tackle - and they got the best guy available - so it's a victory," said Brandon Huffman, Scout.com West Regional Recruiting analyst. "It's a guy at a position of need in Southern California who has the whole country after him. Just because they only got one, it doesn't hurt nearly as bad."
McCarthy will have a chance to contribute immediately to help lift a defense that ranked in the dredges of the conference the previous two years.
That was a common theme for Mora at his signing day press conference, that many of the class could see the field early as part of what he's considering an "open competition."
"Today seems like maybe it's Christmas for this class, but for us, really every day is kind of like that because we're evaluating 80-some players who are already on this roster," Mora said. "We're getting to know those guys and see who they are and get to know where their mindset is. Every day we get a chance to do that. For us, there's a level of excitement because we love to coach football."
Fortunes change completely with wins. Not to be a downer, but having a great recruiting class won't mean much if the on-field performance doesn't improve. That being said, I'm confident that Coach Mora will be able to capitalize on the talent we have and have picked up to turn us into winners soon.
Who were the 10 that went elsewhere? Were any considered big losses?
Did you read the punks at BN are praising Coach Mora and his staff. What a bunch of f*****g hypocrites.
They disapproved of a coaching hire because of his lack of a proven track record, then they praised him when he exceeded their expectations in recruiting. That's hardly hypocrisy. Rather, it's acknowledgement of a job well done. It doesn't change the fact that the hire was, by any measurable standard, a poor one at the time given the information available.
@mindshed
Disapproving is one thing. What those hypocrites said about Coach Mora was borderline slander. Those idiots are reactionary and don't consider the consequences. They've lost credibility a long time ago with reasonable UCLA fans.
We Bruin fans are like Charlie Brown attempting to kick the ball one more time from the hold of Lucy Van Pelt. We've been lured by fancy recruits and highly rated classes in the past. Still we wait for performance on the field. For now I'll be sitting on my hands.
mindshed sounds like a Nestorphile:
"It doesn't change the fact that the hire was, by any measurable standard, a poor one at the time given the information available."
No. A more accurate characterization would be: "Nestor and his persons of hench at BN had little information but chose to libel Mora anyway."
Jon,
Really appreciate all your hard work and the quality info over the past few days with regards to recruiting. I don't have the time to follow the process leading up to signing day, so your crib notes were awesome.
I'd get more touchy-feely, but I'm already feeling a little too bromantic.
-RD
Ya Jon, really great job today. I'm sure you are exhausted. This is the first place I come for info.
inside ucla > bruingold > puntingiswinning > inside usc > bruin nation.
Brock, that's a descent into hell.
Jon, you did good. Wolf on our blog not so much. Great job by Mora and his boys. Hope springs eternal. We need eight wins this year. What do you think? Thanks.
Jon Gold's work has made Inside UCLA THE BEST site for UCLA Football and Basketball information.
Great job Jon!
As for Bruinsnation: It is the most pitiful, shameful, unethical, adolescent pond-scum site that pretends to carry the UCLA flag. It wasn't worth a cent or time to read. I and every one I know stopped reading it. It is no longer relevant. It is the complete opposite of Coach Jim Mora's ethics and what he represents - UCLA. He would fire the administrators of Bruinsnation in a heartbeat.
Jon: Way to "pound" it out. (No waistline pun intended).
So nice to come to ONE SITE and read about what's really important for all things Bruin pigskin & hoops ... fair and balanced even!
As for greener grass, please hang with us to see both ships righted.
Just repeat this:
The grass is not greener over there.
The grass is not greener over there.
The grass is not greener over there.
The grass SURE AS HELL IS NOT greener next door in the asphalt jungle.
@Bruin Gold
Yep, I think you nailed it. BN posts some good info and occasionally insightful commentaries. But, for the most part, it has devolved into a cycle of "FIRE ____________ NOW!!!!" circle jerks. Their target of the moment is AD Dan Guerrero, everything to do with Bruin athletics turns into a new reason to fire Dan Guerrero. It would brilliant satire, if these guys weren't actually serious.
Jim Mora and the football staff have a great signing day? Fire Dan Guerrero because the process that hired Jim Mora was botched!
Ben Howland and the basketball team lose a game? Fire Dan Guerrero and bring in a new AD who will fire Ben Howland and hire an "elite" coach!
Ben Howland and the basketball team win a game? Wins don't matter because wins only distract from the big picture -- i.e., firing Dan Guerrero, and hiring a new AD who will fire Ben Howland and hire an "elite" coach!
Women's volleyball team wins the national championship? Fire Dan Guerrero because he should have fired Coach Banachowski and hired Coach Sealy sooner!
Men's soccer team makes it to the College Cup? Fire Dan Guerrero because his lack of administrative support is the reason they didn't win the national championship!
Anybody think I'm kidding? Go to the site and read the posts and comments for yourself.
This class is the same as Rick's 2008 class, maybe a little bit less talent. BTW Jon how many more players have to go because of oversigning? 5-6?