Tag Archives: Brandon Burton

Four-star safety Brandon Burton of Gardena Serra commits to UCLA

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Four-star safety Brandon Burton pulled out a UCLA hat and gloves during a SportsCenter announcement on Tuesday night.

Four-star safety Brandon Burton pulled out a UCLA hat and gloves during a SportsCenter announcement on Tuesday night.

Safety Brandon Burton has committed to UCLA, becoming just the third Gardena Serra product to pick the Bruins in over a decade.

The four-star prospect was slated to announce his decision on SportsCenter on Tuesday night, but a pre-taped video was released on Bleacher Report nearly half an hour earlier.

He picked UCLA over Florida State, USC and Arizona.

When he sends in his letter of intent, Burton will become the highest-ranked Serra player to sign with the Bruins in recent memory. Receiver Jordan Lasley and linebacker Dwight Williams, both of whom were three-star prospects, landed in Westwood in 2014, while two-star offensive lineman Tony Lee did so in 2004. (Four-star receiver Paul Richardson also signed with UCLA in 2010, but was dismissed after being arrested on suspicion of felony theft. He signed with Colorado the following August.)

A consensus top-150 national recruit, Burton is ranked the fourth-best safety in the country by Rivals and the No. 13 athlete by Scout. The 6-foot, 185-pounder is just the third defensive back prospect in UCLA’s 2016 class, joining three-star recruits Keyon Riley and Leni Toailoa.

A look at UCLA football’s remaining 2016 recruiting targets

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Can UCLA close out its top-10 recruiting class by landing five-star linebacker Mique Juarez? (Brad Graverson/Staff)

UCLA already has a top-10 recruiting class in 2016. Can push even higher with prospects like five-star linebacker Mique Juarez? (Brad Graverson/Staff)

Less than 36 hours from National Signing Day, UCLA’s 2016 recruiting class is already in very good shape. With 23 commitments — five of whom are already enrolled — the Bruins’ latest haul currently stands at No. 10 in the country.

Now, Jim Mora and his staff has a chance to finish at the top of the Pac-12 for the second time in his tenure. Here are the prospects left on the board.

Star power

Five-star linebacker Mique Juarez isn’t just one of the most talented players coming out of high school this year. If he signs with UCLA, he’ll be just the second consensus top-10 prospect that Mora has landed, following quarterback Josh Rosen.

Since he decomitted from USC back in October, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has been closely linked with the Bruins, who offered him two summers ago. If he picks UCLA, Juarez could immediately become the dynamic linebacker that the Bruins have missed since Myles Jack tore his meniscus in September. Although the team’s defensive struggles this past season weren’t limited to a single position, Jack’s presence often cleaned up mistakes made elsewhere — something that even fellow linebacker Deon Hollins pointed out.

Juarez isn’t going to play at that level immediately, but producing something close to what Jack was able to do as a true freshman would help. Continue reading “A look at UCLA football’s remaining 2016 recruiting targets” »