Four-star receiver Austin Roberts commits to UCLA

Despite not having visited UCLA as a recruit, four-star receiver Austin Roberts announced his commitment today, giving the Bruins four wideouts in their 2014 class.

At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Roberts has the size to slide into the Y-receiver/tight end spot for UCLA, which didn’t offer him until last week. He caught for 378 yards and five touchdowns during an injury-plagued junior season at Carmel (Ind.) High, and won a Class 8A championship at Plant High in Tampa, Fla., the year prior.

Roberts also had offers from Ohio State, Florida and Alabama, but had cancelled a Monday visit to Tuscaloosa.

“Coach Jim Mora definitely is the man to bring UCLA back to prominence,” he told the Indianapolis Star. “They have a couple highly rated NFL prospects there and a great recruiting class. I can’t wait to get there and help them win a Rose Bowl.”

He added that Mora had thought of him as a long shot given the late offer.

His father, Alfredo Roberts, worked with UCLA receivers coach Eric Yarber on Raheem Morris’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff. The elder Roberts is currently the Indianapolis Colts’ tight end coach. Austin also has family in Los Angeles, including his maternal grandfather.