Recruiting Roundup: KD's "best class to date"

by Nestor on Feb 8, 2007 5:19 AM PST in Recruiting

Wanted to share with you a quick round up of the news about UCLA’s signing day. Dohn is impressed with the small but a "quality" class:

UCLA's recruiting class barely registers on the national radar, but that did not dampen the spirit of Bruins football coach Karl Dorrell.

Not when, top to bottom, he signed arguably his best of five classes Wednesday on national letter of intent signing day.

What kept UCLA from joining the elite ranks was the size of the class. The Bruins lost only eight scholarship seniors, and two other players to medical issues, so they signed just 10 players, matching the lowest number in the nation and the fewest for a BCS conference.

"This class is going to (have) the quality playmakers that are going to be differences in our program in the future," Dorrell said. "This class has been our best class so far, since I've been here. It's about quality."

The group is led by Crenshaw defensive tackle Brian Price and tailback Raymond Carter, both of whom should play significant roles in the upcoming season.

More from White in the LA Times why this class is so small:

UCLA had eight seniors last season and had two extra scholarships available because defensive back Robert Kibble (multiple sclerosis) and defensive lineman Chris Johnson (shoulder) left the program for medical reasons.

And Dorrell (from the same LAT report) on the quality of this small class:

"This class will be the type of class that will fill in the gaps, help us sustain a level of play," said Dorrell, whose Bruins were 7-6 last season. "It's my best class to date. We've gotten better each and every year."

Well, I actually think this is a pretty decent class. But, as I mentioned yesterday, its still troubling to me that, after five recruiting classes in Westwood, KD still hasn’t been able to sign one five star WR recruit. I also think the reason why we had so few scholarships to give out this season is because Dorrell and his staff gave out a little too many to "projects," "diamond in the rough," 2-3 star recruits in the last four years in Westwood.

In any event, we will take KD at his word that this his "best class" ever. And since last year’s team was his "best" and "deepest" team ever, he should have no excuses for not winning the Pac-10 next season when you combine his "best class" ever with the 20 returning starters from his best/deepest team ever.

No one should be in the mood for excuses and clichés should Dorrell fail to win the Pac-10 next season.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

Did KD sign Ben Olson?

I thought Ben was KD's sole blue chip pick (laying aside the fact that BO wanted to come to UCLA and would have done no matter who was coaching.)

But your point is just the same. It's a nice class, but according to rivals, we're No. 38 and just sc is no. 2. So relatively speaking, we might have a nice class, but it's light years behind sc.

And that's another problem with Coach Dorrell. He can't recruit.

by Fox 71 on Feb 8, 2007 7:59 AM PST reply actions

RECRUIT!!??

Come on now . . . old KD sure can recruit. It's not like he lost out on a 3 Star safety from L.A., who said he was a UCLA football fan growing up. Or lost out on 3 wide receivers, all 6'2 and taller, in the last month.

Huh . . . i'm scratching my head . . . maybe he can't recruit. It's the first time he's gotten more 4 stars than 3 stars, thanks to the fact he only had a limited amount of scholarships to offer.

by TheStick on Feb 8, 2007 8:35 AM PST reply actions

Don't forget

the 5 star tailback son of a former Bruin great, living right in his own backyard, to the rival school already 4 deep at that position!

by godblesstyus95 on Feb 8, 2007 9:33 AM PST up reply actions

That is embarrassing

But I blame that as much on their greed as on KD's lack of recruiting prowess. U$C is a corruptor of souls, appealing to these young kids' visions of grandeur and robbing a lot of them of a chance to shine elsewhere. I also blame the father a bit, for being too proud and expecting to be "serviced". If he had true love for his school Pom Pom's shady sales gimmicks should have no effect. I know he wants the best for his son...but I strongly doubt that U$C is where he'll get that.

by tasser10 on Feb 8, 2007 9:52 AM PST up reply actions

You're dead on...

I think he also played a little bit of Linebacker in high school and yesterday on CSTV I heard some recruiting expert--can't remember his name--say he thought there was a pretty good chance Marc Tyler would never even see playing time as a RB, but instead would be moved to a linebacking position, not because he wasn't good enough to play in the backfield but because SC is already so deep at that position. But honestly, I don't feel too badly for Tyler; I've seen and read some of his interviews and I'll just say this guy could benefit from a little humbling.

by txbruin on Feb 8, 2007 11:02 AM PST up reply actions

Ahh, but daddy could sure play

He was a treat to watch when the Veer was shifting into overdrive.

by Fox 71 on Feb 8, 2007 12:16 PM PST up reply actions

Pom Pom Shady

I think that Pom Pom's recruiting strategy is based on rewarding his assistants for landing top recruits. It's either monetary rewards or something similar. Nothing else would inspire people to go after kids who have already committed. They must get a commission on every commit or something.

by tasser10 on Feb 8, 2007 4:03 PM PST up reply actions

KD on the radio

KD was interviewed on 570 this morning and acknowledged that he has had 3 ok seasons and 1 really good season and that doing ok is not good enough. Asked by Simers if he feels more comfortable now in his position having beaten SC, Dorrell said no . . . 'I feel like I could be let go anyday' or words close to that. This next season must be the start of double digit season victories for Ucla football for the next 4 to 5 years minimum.

by WoodenScates on Feb 8, 2007 1:49 PM PST reply actions