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It's on...
In the words of our San Diego boys P.O.D., HERE COMES THE BOOM!
Welcome to National Letter Of Intent Signing Day 2016, Bruins Nation. #8Clap & #4sUp & #ImABruin
After a rough 2015 football season that saw Jim Mora's program take its first definite step backward, the Bruins are looking to regain the momentum from his first 2-3 years and reignite the hopes of the U.C.L.A. football fanbase. And based on today's possibilities, Mora and our Bruins may be in just the right place to not only regain that momentum but to give it a giant boost.
The Bruins currently have the #10 ranked class in the country per Rivals, and they are still in the mix for several huge names who will announce today. We'll see if Coach Mora and his staff are able to close out 2016 LOI Day with a few more BOOMS!
The Bruins current commitment list looks like this (bold text indicated LOI is received or is an early enrollee)
| Name | Position | High school, Hometown | Stars (Rivals) |
| Alex Akingbulu | OL | Narbonne, Harbor City, CA | 4 |
| Damian Alloway | WR | Summit, Fontana, CA | 4 |
| Michael Alves | OL | St Augustine, San Diego, CA | 3 |
| Krys Barnes | LB | Liberty, Bakersfield, CA | 4 |
| Breland Brandt | LB | Windward, Los Angeles, CA | 4 |
| Brandon Burton | ATH | Junipero Serra, Gardena, CA | 4 |
| Jake Burton | DE | Granite Hills, El Cajon, CA | 3 |
| Johnny Den Bleyker | OL/LS | Moreau Catholic, Hayward, CA | 2 |
| Demetric Felton | ATH | Great Oak, Temecula, CA | 3 |
| Theo Howard | WR | Westlake, Westlake Village, CA | 4 |
| Austin Kent | P | Providence, Charlotte, NC | 3 |
| Dymond Lee | ATH | Chaminade, West Hills, CA | 4 |
| Matt Lynch | QB | Legacy, Broomfield, CO | 4 |
| Devon Modster | QB | Tesoro, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 4 |
| JJ Molson | K | John Abbot College, Montreal, QC | 3 |
| Marcus Moore | DE | Crespi, Encino, CA | 3 |
| Osa Odighizuwa | DT | David Douglas, Portland, OR | 3 |
| Darien Owens | WR | Clovis West, Fresno, CA | 4 |
| Keyon Riley | DB | Servite, Anaheim, CA | 3 |
| Jalen Starks | FB | Crespi, Encino, CA | 3 |
| Nick Terry | DT | American River CC, Sacramento, CA | 3 |
| Leni Toailoa | ATH | Wilmer Carter, Rialto, CA | 3 |
| Lokeni Toailoa | LB | Wilmer Carter, Rialto, CA | 4 |
| Jordan Wilson | TE | Montgomery Bell, Nashville, TN | 3 |
| Cade Spinello | QB | Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA | 5 |
This list also does not include Jake Raulerson, the redshirt junior offensive lineman who is a graduate transfer from the University of Texas and has two years of eligibility remaining. The class is loaded at linebacker and wide receiver, the latter group can be attributed in large part to a certain quarterback on campus.
We'll be following the UCLA Football twitter account to get updates on when players have officially submitted their LOIs.
The U.C.L.A. coaching staff and fans will also be watching for a few remaining announcements today that could go the Bruins way. We saw last year how much excitement can come with some signing day announcements, and we saw the season before how missing on the final day can be a real let down. With the Bruins going down to the wire for some big time recruits, this year's Signing Day is sure to provide a lot of drama. Mora and staff are among the finalists for at least eight announcements today, and if these players put on a U.C.L.A. hat, our 2016 recruiting class can potentially finish in the top 5 in the country.
Notable Signing Day Announcements and times/TV (Pacific time, of course)
Brandon Stephens RB 4* 6:00 am - Committed to UCLA!! (LOI Received)
Garrett Rand DL 4* 6:30 am - Commited to Wisconsin
Audie Omotosho WR 4* 7:30 am - Committed to UCLA!! (LOI Received)
Francisco Perez OL 3* 10:30 am - Committed to UCLA!! (LOI Received)
Aaron Hansford WR 4* 11:15 am - Committed to Texas A&M
Devin Asiasi TE 4* 12:20 pm, ESPN2 - Committed to Michigan
Boss Tagaloa DL 4* 12:20 pm, ESPN2 - Committed to UCLA!! (LOI Received)
Mique Juarez LB 5* 12:30 pm - Committed to UCLA!! (LOI Received)
If a player isn't scheduled to announce on TV, you can follow Bruin Sports Report's Ed Lewis's twitter @Edward_Lewis for updates. UCLA Football twitter likely won't announce any new commitments until the LOI is received and official.
It's going to be quite a lunchtime on the west coast.
Considering the current commitment list and the fact that the Bruins struck out on all their targets at cornerback, Boss Tagaloa and Garrett Rand on the D Line and Francisco Perez on the O Line have to be seen as the Bruins biggest priorities today. There were reports last night that Rand will stick with his prior commitment to Wisconsin, but nothing is set until the letter is signed and submitted (and sometimes even after that).
So join us today as we watch the Bruin commits email their signed letters of intent and we wait for the announcements of some of the remaining players. It's already a very good class and it could get even better. Get the coffee ready...
Here's your Signing Day open thread. Have at it.
#8Clap, #4sUp, and #ImABruin...BOOM!
GO BRUINS!!