No. 11: UCLA Bruins (2nd Pac-10)

2009 Haul: 24 signees (27 commitments — Athlon Consensus 100: 3)

Positional Breakdown

Position	Number	AC100
QB	1	0
RB	1	0
WR	2	1
TE	1	1
OL	6	1
DE	2	0
DT	0	0
LB	4	0
DB	4	0
ATH	3	0

AC100 Prospects

29. Randall Carroll — WR — Los Angeles, Calif. (5-foot-11, 175 lbs)

Carroll fits the mold of the new-age hybrid wide receiver/running back. He is likely to fill a slot role in college, however, the future Bruin runs the ball with the mentality and attitude of a running back. He plays that Percy Harvin position in which a slot wideout is also motioned into the backfield for option sets. Trick plays and reverses will also be a strong part of his game.

Although a smaller player, Carroll is well put together and shows more strength than a normal player with a 175-pound frame. As expected from a player with his size, Carroll's speed, agility, quickness and burst are all tremendous. He gets in and out of cuts and breaks with great efficiency. His feet are lightning quick and he possesses great balance. His straight line speed is excellent.

Once he gets into the open field, Carroll is a terror. He is one of — if not the — top yards after catch guys in this class. He is the type of player that can score on any play. He has solid instincts, solid ball skills and great hands. He is the complete and perfect package for a slot wide receiver. He has also proven to be a dynamic return man, so a major impact on special teams returning kicks and punts is to be expected. 

There is an outside chance that he ends up playing corner due to his recovery speed and raw athleticism — especially since the wide receiver spot has some depth in Westwood.

Carroll was a 2008 California state champion in the 100-meter (10.43) and the 200-meter (20.91).

41. Morrell Presley — TE — Carson, Calif. (6-foot-4, 220 lbs)
Early enrollee has perfect skill set for the new-wave split out tight end.

87. Xavier Su'a Filo — OL — Provo, Utah (6-foot-4, 290 lbs)
Mature young athlete could take his LDS mission after first season.

Also Receiving AC100 Points

127. Richard Brehaut — QB — Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (6-foot-2, 210 lbs)
135. Marlon Pollard — CB — San Bernardino, Calif. (6-foot, 165 lbs)
147. Damien Thigpen — ATH — Manassas, Va. (5-foot-8, 170 lbs)
178. Kennan Graham — DE — Las Vegas, Nev. (6-foot-3, 220 lbs)
190. Alex Mascarenas — CB — Mission Viejo, Calif. (5-foot-10, 175 lbs)
208. Stanley Hasiak — OL — Kapolei, Hawaii (6-foot-6, 320 lbs)
275. Todd Golper — LB — Arcadia, Calif. (6-foot, 220 lbs)

Where They Got Them

The state of California has been a West Coast power of talent production for decades and schools like UCLA have been benefiting for just as long. The Bruins signed 18 players from the Golden State with a potential for three more (if they sign). The top two prospects in this class and four of the top five hail from in-state schools. A majority of the Bruins' roster should consist of players from California each year though, so if UCLA isn't landing double-digit Cali prospects there would be cause for concern.

Rick Neuheisel dipped into five other states including a pair of solid prospects from the Islands. Hawaii sends running back Dalton Hilliard — Manti Te'o's teammate — and O-lineman Stan Hasiak. Nevada, Utah, Virginia and Texas (a state that delivered AC100 tailback Aundre Dean last season) each sent one player to UCLA as well.

The Scouting Report

Along with Alabama, Michigan and Ole Miss, UCLA had a great signing day, finishing as strong as any team in the nation. Neuheisel and staff have finished strong two years in a row. Three of the top five players in this class were not committed prior to NSD. Kudos go to the staff in Westwood for, as The Wizard would say, "playing to the whistle."

The areas of focus were offensive line, secondary and linebacker. Six big blockers head to Los Angeles in this class highlighted by Xavier Su'a Filo and Stan Hasiak. This group is also the most geographically diverse as Utah, Texas, California and Hawaii each sent at least one lineman to UCLA. Su'a Filo has a great mental make-up and is the premier tackle of the group while Hasiak's raw strength makes him the top guard. If all things play out as they should, this group has three tackle prospects and three guards.

Four solid linebackers signed with this class, headlined by Todd Golper. It is not a big group — no player is listed bigger than 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds — but all four can run. This group adds great depth to a position of need.

The secondary might be the strongest area of this class. Four to seven prospects could end up playing in the defensive backfield for the Bruins. Marlon Pollard is the top rated corner in this group unless Randall Carroll gets moved to defense. Sheldon Price and Stanjarivus McKay add great size (6-foot-2) to a roster that featured a 2008 class of Aaron Hester, Anthony Dye and E.J. Woods. Throw in corner Alex Mascarenas and speedster Damien Thigpen and one could argue this is the strongest position on the UCLA roster.

The quantity of the offensive skill players is not high but the quality is as good as it gets. Quarterback Richard Brehaut was hand picked by passing guru Neuheisel over other highly rated signal callers. He does not have elite size but is big enough and is one of the most accurate passers in the nation. Carroll is the best pure athlete in this class and could be a dynamic force all over the field — wide receiver, running back, return man and even cornerback. Add the nation's top tight end prospect in Morrell Presley and the offense has added some nice pieces for the future. For a smaller, split out type tight end, Presley actually has solid blocking skills and with some added size could turn into a great tight end. If the Bruins decide to use him strictly as a pass catcher, he will be a nightmare-ish match-up for smaller corners or slower safeties. Fred Davis is a solid comparison.

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