Four-star DB Elijah Gates picks UCLA

UCLA pulled in another highly-ranked defensive back for its 2017 recruiting class as four-star recruit Elijah Gates committed to UCLA on Monday.

Gates, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound defensive back from Buena Park, chose the Bruins over Oregon. He joins an elite group for UCLA defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin, who also pulled in five-star Darnay Holmes, four-star Jaylan Shaw and three-stars Quentin Lake and Morrell Osling.

“The coaches, the players, the whole environment of everything, I felt like I was at home,” Gates told the Southern California News Group’s Jonathan Khamis.

According to Scout, Gates is the No. 5 defensive back in California.

He’s UCLA’s 18th verbal commit with National Signing Day coming in a little over a week.

UCLA’s commitment list so far: 

  • DE Jaelan Phillips
  • OL Kanan Ray
  • OLB Rahyme Johnson
  • DT Martin Andrus
  • DB Jaylan Shaw
  • TE Jimmy Jaggers
  • OL Jaxson Kirkland
  • DB Quentin Lake
  • QB Austin Burton
  • DE Cassius Peat (JuCo transfer still taking visits)
  • DT Greg Rogers
  • DB Darnay Holmes
  • OL Jax Wacaser
  • TE Moses Robinson-Carr
  • DE Odua Isibor
  • DB Morrell Osling
  • OL Zachary Sweeney
  • DB Elijah Gates