UCLA Football Recruiting: Jim Mora Fails to Close But Lands a Solid Class

So here were the recruits Bruins targeted in the homestretch in recent days:

• Solomon Thomas, DE (Coppell TX) - 5 am ESPNU
• Malachi Dupre, WR (River Ridge LA) - 7 am ESPNU
• Mattrell McGraw, S (River Ridge LA) - 7 am ESPNU
• Kenny Young, LB (River Ridge LA) - 7:30 am ESPNU
• Rashaan Evans, LB (Auburn AL) - 8 am ESPNU
• Davon Godchaux DE (Plaquemine LA) - 8:30 am
• Adoree' Jackson, DB/Ath (Gardena CA) - 11 am ESPNU
• Budda Baker, S (Bellevue WA) 1 pm committed to UW last night
• Kalen Ballage RB (Falcon CO) 2:30 pm

Bruins struck out on all of them except for Kenny Young, who is an outstanding LB and helps to bolster a solid corp of LBers for soon to be DC Jeff Ulbrich. He talked about the LBers in this class with Ralph earlier today.

But we have to be frank. This was an extremely disappointing finish for Coach Jim Mora who lost to a mediocre coach but a fierce recruiter from across town - Steve Sarkisian. While Mora has some elite recruiters in his staff - they got outworked by the Trojans who had put on a full court press on local talents like Adoree Jackson and JuJu Smith throughout the entire recruiting season - not just in closing weeks.

We will have lot more on UCLA's recruiting class later. But right now it's ok to be disappointed in the final outcome in this year's recruiting class. Now don't get us wrong. We love the kids we signed in what is still a solid class. But it could have been better and given where our program is in Southern California, this was a big let down by Mora and his staff.

Now it is up to them to destroy the Trojans at the Rose Bowl this coming season, run up the score, and show no mercy both on the field and on the recruiting this coming season. A Pac-12 championship season or bust for Jim Mora in 2014. There is no more margin for error.

GO BRUINS.