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2014 UCLA football recruiting class signs impact players

Newly signed inside linebacker Zach Whitley could earn enough playing time next season to become one of UCLA’s top performing freshmen.

By Kevin Bowman

Feb. 6, 2014 2:15 a.m.

UCLA football came away from National Signing Day with a new batch of players, and not all of them were 2014 recruits. Senior offensive lineman Malcolm Bunche transferred to Westwood from Miami for his redshirt senior year, and 2013 recruit Mossi Johnson, a defensive back, delayed his enrollment until this winter.

The influx of fresh talent and the departure of players at key positions could create the opportunity for several incoming players to make contributions in their first year.

Offense

1) OL Malcolm Bunche (6-7, 327 pounds): After three years at “The U,” Bunche will finish his career with the Bruins and looks to immediately compete for the starting left guard spot vacated by the NFL-bound Xavier Su’a-Filo. With his size and experience – Bunche started all 12 games in 2012 and played in 11 games last season – he will provide some leadership on what will still be a relatively young offensive line next season. Bunche will likely compete with now-freshman Scott Quessenberry for the starting spot.

2) WR Austin Roberts (6-2, 221 pounds): UCLA came away from signing day with three new receivers, and Roberts, a four-star recruit, figures to have the best chance to make an impact during his first year. The competition for playing time will be tough; rising juniors Devin Fuller and Jordan Payton, along with rising redshirt junior Devin Lucien, look secure in their starting spots, and rising redshirt freshman Eldridge Massington will try to prove his worth as well. But Roberts’ blend of size, decent speed and sure-handedness could make him a valuable red-zone target at least.

3) RB Nathan Starks (5-11, 200 pounds): Starks has the talent to quickly make an impact for the Bruins. He shows patience as a runner, as well as a potentially lethal combination of shiftiness and some power. What could hold him back early on, however, is his competition. Like Roberts, Starks faces a logjam at his position. Rising redshirt senior Jordon James will likely reprise his role as starting running back, and rising redshirt sophomore Paul Perkins and rising redshirt junior Steven Manfro return as his backups. Add to that mix rising sophomore running back/linebacker Myles Jack and redshirt freshman Craig Lee, a four-star recruit last season, and the Bruins have a lot of depth in the backfield. In the long term, Starks could very well progress to become UCLA’s starting running back. He has the talent, but the opportunity might not be there right away.

Defense

1) ILB Zach Whitley (6-2, 200 pounds): Whitley flipped his commitment from Alabama to UCLA and enrolled for the winter quarter, giving him extra time with the team in regard to weight training and spring ball. With that extra time, and given his skill level – Whitley was a four-star recruit – the inside linebacker figures to see a good amount of field time as a freshman. His ability to read the offense and make sure-handed tackles points to the potential for him to make his presence felt on defense as a freshman.

2) S Jaleel Wadood (5-11, 165 pounds): A two-way player in high school, Wadood figures to play primarily on defense at UCLA. While deemed an “athlete” by some scouting services, Wadood will likely slot in as a safety but could also find ways to contribute as a returner. While he has quickness and physicality, his biggest asset on defense is his combination of instincts and football knowledge. With this skill set, Wadood could see time early in nickel packages and eventually grow into a role as a safety.

3) LB Kenny Young (6-2, 220 pounds): While Whitley is the all-around ball stopper, Young takes a slightly different approach to his play, excelling as a blitzer and a pass rusher. Young has a nose for the quarterback and could come up with a few sacks next season. With Young, Whitley and a pair of other linebacker recruits, the holes left by the departing Anthony Barr and Jordan Zumwalt could soon be filled.

Compiled by Kevin Bowman, Bruin Sports senior staff.

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