ESPN

LOS ANGELES -- The rebuilding of UCLA's football program took another step forward Wednesday when coach Jim Mora landed one of the school's top recruiting classes of the past decade.

Mora signed 23 players Wednesday, the first day football players could sign, and the class is currently ranked No. 12 in the nation by ESPN Recruiting Nation. Of the 23 players, five are among the ESPN 150 and nine are in the ESPN 300.

Priest Willis, No. 5 safety in the nation and No. 59 overall recruit, did not sign Wednesday and is expected to still sign with UCLA.

"We're very happy with the class that we were able to put together," Mora said. "We feel that it fills a lot of needs or areas of concern for this football team."

Looking at the class breakdown, offensive line, defensive back and linebacker were the major target areas for the Bruins. Mora and his staff brought in seven offensive linemen, three defensive backs (with Willis perhaps still to come) and five linebackers.

Defensive end Kylie Fitts, No. 85 in the ESPN 150 and the No. 8 player at his position, was the top-ranked player to sign Wednesday. Asiantii Woulard, the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and No. 143 overall prospect, is UCLA's top offensive player.

The gaping hole in the class is at running back. Johnathan Franklin, the school's all-time leading rusher, left some big shoes to fill, but Mora and his staff didn't fill them. Craig Lee, a running back from Redlands, was committed but did not sign because of admissions issues.

Here is a breakdown of UCLA's class:

(Read full post)

CARSON, Calif. -- Three-star tight end Thomas Duarte (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) put a quick end to his recruiting process on Friday, as the three-star prospect made a verbal commitment to the UCLA Bruins at the 2013 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.

"The education is great that I'll receive and their football is on the rise," Duarte said. "I'm going to love to be a part of the revolution that is UCLA football."

Duarte surprised many by even scheduling his announcement to take place at the event. He said all season that he would focus on recruiting after the season and looked to have a busy January ahead of him. But the 6-foot-3, 223-pound, two-way threat felt comfortable enough after multiple unofficial visits to make a commitment to the Bruins.

He held offers from much of the Pac-12 and eventually narrowed his choices to a final four of Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA and Washington. Duarte took unofficial visits to all but Notre Dame.

Duarte had a phenomenal senior season for a Monarchs team that surprised many by posting an 11-3 record. He caught 58 passes for 1,025 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also racked up 42 tackles 10 sacks and three interceptions on defense.

He has the ability to play multiple positions at the next level, but will begin his career as a tight end.

He is verbal commitment No. 20 for the UCLA Bruins, who needed a versatile tight end to bring in alongside a fantastic group of wide receivers. The Bruins were able to turn tight end Joseph Fauria into a dynamic weapon in the passing game this season, and they likely see the same ability in Duarte.

The UCLA Bruins (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) will play at California (1-4, 0-2) Saturday at 7 p.m. in a game that will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks. It will be the 83rd meeting between the teams and though UCLA holds a 50-31-1 record in the long-standing rivalry, the Bruins are looking to end a losing streak more than a decade long in Berkeley. Here are a few keys to the game:

1. Pomp and circumstance

California’s Memorial Stadium got a makeover last season and no team in the conference is happier than UCLA to see the old place go. The Bruins have not won there since 1998, a string of six consecutive losses. However, the Golden Bears have conveniently scheduled a ceremony for Saturday during which the stadium will be rededicated to Californians who have lost their lives in war. Cal also will conduct a special card stunt for the fans, and this also happens to be homecoming weekend in Berkeley. Put it all together and this will be by far the most difficult road environment the Bruins have faced all season; they will have to block out all of the distractions in order to succeed.

2. Sack exchange

UCLA’s sack masters, Anthony Barr, Damien Holmes and Datone Jones, could be in for a big day against a California team that has given up 25 sacks, more than any other team in the nation. Barr has six sacks this season, Holmes has four and Jones has two among his team-leading nine tackles for a loss. Holmes had three of his sacks last week after switching to outside linebacker and will again start outside Saturday, so it could be a big day of pass rushing for the Bruins, who are tied for sixth in the nation with 17 sacks.

3. Picking their spots

UCLA enters the game tied for second in the nation with nine interceptions. Sheldon Price is tied for the national lead with four interceptions and Stan McKay has had one in each of the past two games. Cal quarterback Zach Maynard is susceptible to bad passing stretches. He has had five passes intercepted this season and is ninth in the conference and No. 94 in the nation with a 121.82 passer rating. UCLA safety Tevin McDonald will be licking his chops. McDonald had a school-record three interceptions last season against Maynard, who had four passes intercepted in the 31-14 UCLA victory last season.

4. The long run

UCLA enters the game No. 4 in the nation in total offense with 558.4 yards per game and No. 13 in rushing offense with 243.4. That bodes well for Johnathan Franklin and the UCLA rushing attack, which will go up against a California defense that is giving up 174.8 yards per game on the ground to rank last in the Pac-12. Franklin is third in the nation with 697 yards rushing. The Golden Bears have been particularly vulnerable to big gains, having given up 28 runs of 10 yards or more this season. That list includes runs of 62, 55, 49 and 33 yards.

5. They’ve got skills

Despite California’s 1-4 record, the Golden Bears are loaded at the skill positions on offense. Receiver Keenan Allen, an all-Pac-12 selection last season, is among the best in the country at his position and also returns punts and has a 39-yard run for a touchdown on a reverse. Fellow receiver Bryce Treggs was one of the top receiver recruits in the nation last season. Running backs Isi Sofele and C.J. Anderson pack a one-two punch on the ground and are averaging 5.46 yards per carry. Sophomore speedster Brendan Bigelow has not been used much (only 10 carries), but he showed what he can do with touchdown runs of 81 and 59 yards against Ohio State, so he is someone to watch.