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While the 2019 UCLA recruiting class looks to be the worst since 2004, the exodus from the UCLA Bruins football program is continuing as outside linebacker Rahyme Johnson announced today via Twitter that he will be leaving the program:
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A total of 35 players, including Austin Roberts, Kolton Miller, Jordan Lasley, Josh Rosen, Andre James and Caleb Wilson who chose to leave early for the NFL, have left in the Chip Kelly era:
1. WR Austin Roberts
2. DL Ainuu Taua
3. OL Kolton Miller
4. WR Jordan Lasley
5. DB Denzel Fisher
6. QB Josh Rosen
7. LB DeChaun Holiday
8. OL Andre James
9. DB Colin Samuel
10. DB Octavius Spencer
11. DB Will Lockett
12. DL Chigozie Nnoruka
13. LB Breland Brandt
14. WR Damian Alloway
15. LB Brandon Burton
16. QB Devon Modster
17. WR Audie Omotosho
18. RB Brandon Stephens
19. OL Alex Akingbulu
20. LB Marcus Moore
21. OL Paco Perez
22. DB Keyon Riley
23. FB Jalen Starks
24. P Austin Kent
25. TE Caleb Wilson
26. LB Jaelan Phillips
27. DL Greg Rogers
28. OL Stephan Zabie
29. TE Jimmy Jaggers
30. OL Jax Wacaser
31. OL Zach Sweeney
32. OL Sean Seawards
33. OL Kanan Ray
34. TE Matt Alaimo
35. OL Justin Murphy
This, coupled with the abysmal recruiting class, has fans wondering what the 2019 season has in store. Not only are we losing out on recruits, especially the blue chip recruits, but we are losing our current players like there’s no tomorrow.
In 2018, Johnson recorded a total of two tackles, one solo and one assist in the game at Oklahoma on September 9. In 2017, then-head coach Jim Mora’s final season, he appeared in two games and recorded four solo tackles. It’s clear that he wasn’t seeing much playing time, which could explain why he has chosen to leave.
But, is this recent exit another case of players not seeing satisfaction with the Chip Kelly program?
Rumors have flown around about Kelly’s inability to get along with players, the most recent coming from Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson, who accused Kelly of caring more about the system he was employing in Philadelphia than about the players who were in it.
Is this what we’re seeing in Westwood?
All we can do is sit and wait at this point. Kelly has a giant contract with an even bigger buyout and, while some fans have already called for his head, we still have to give everything a chance to play out on the field.
But with players leaving and a poor recruiting cycle for the 2019 class, things are not looking good.
Go Bruins.