The Bruins currently have a top-25 class
The UCLA Bruins class of 2022 is shaping up quite nicely and is currently ranked second in the Pac-12 by 247Sports. With seven committed players, we take a comprehensive look at those players who are set to join UCLA this circuit as the summer starts to heat up.
4-star TE Jack Pedersen
IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
At 6’4, 255 pounds, Pedersen plays for powerhouse IMG in south Florida. He ranks as the country’s fifth-best TE prospect and the 200th-ranked player overall by the 247 Composite. Pedersen transferred from Vista Murrieta this spring to IMG, and holds at least 21 other scholarship offers ahead of his senior year.
4-star TE Carsen Ryan
American Fork High School, American Fork, Utah
Another 6’4 tight end prospect, Ryan ranks as the state of Utah’s second-best player and 11th overall tight end by the 247Sports Composite. He holds another 16 offers at least, including in-state BYU and Utah State.
Broad shouldered, wide frame with projectable length. Well rounded tight end and physical blocker at line of scrimmage. Athletic pass-catcher for his size and ability to get open up the seam. Good ball skills and high-point concentration. Efficient red zone target who does well to box out defenders. Can get open underneath and pick up yards after catch. Could continue to improve overall fluidity as route runner. Potential multi-year starter at Power Five level and future NFL Draft Day 3 selection.
4-star ATH Clint Stephens
Inglewood High School, Inglewood, CA
Stephens is a 6’1, 188-pound athlete who projects to the secondary with the Bruins. He held offers for both his play as a receiver and in the secondary but ultimately chose UCLA to stay close to home.
“I had some great options but UCLA always felt like the best fit for me. It’s close to home but more then that, I like the coaches and how hard they recruited me. I have a strong comfort level there and I like the fit in the defense. I think the program is going in the right direction and I’m excited to get in there and continue to help change the culture over there.”
Stephens is the country’s 17th-ranked athlete and 21st-ranked player from the state of California.
3-star OLB Jalen Woods
St. John Bosco High School, Bellflower, CA
Woods held offers from Arizona State, Boston College and Miami, among others, when he pledged to UCLA. He stands 6’0, 210 pounds and projects as an outside pass-rusher if he can add a few pounds. He stands as the country’s 33rd-ranked OLB prospect and fittingly enough, the 33rd-best prospect in the state.
3-star WR AJ Jones
Colony High School, Ontario, CA
Jones is a 6’4, 195-pound receiver prospect with great hands. He had multiple offers from schools across the country but chose UCLA back in April. He’s currently listed as the nation’s 95th-ranked receiver and a top-50 player in the state of California by 247Sports.
Jones is a really intriguing jumbo receiver who could grow in to a hybrid tight end at the college level. He’s all of 6-5, 195 pounds with the kind of frame that could easily hold another 20-25 pounds without losing any of his athleticism. He runs well, uses his size to create separation and is very good in jump ball situations. He has strong hands, does a nice job high pointing the football and isn’t just long, he uses that length well and is a really tough match-up.
3-star CB Croix Stewart
Benicia High School, Benicia, CA
At 6’2, 187 pounds, Stewart has great size for a cornerback and ranks as the country’s 58th-best CB and the 54th-ranked player in California. He had offers from several Group of 5 schools when he announced his commitment to UCLA.
OLB DeAndre Gill
Kentwood High School, Kentwood, WA
A lesser-known prospect out of Washington, Gill is 6’5, 210 pounds and held offers from just FAU and UNLV. He compares to current Cincinnati Bengals OLB Joseph Ossai and projects out as a starter from 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman:
Gill is a long, athletic defender who can play a myriad of positions. He has lined up as an outside linebacker, a defensive end, an inline tight end and a flexed out receiver. While he has good hands and can be a red zone threat, his future is on defense, where he can drop into coverage against tight ends and running backs as an off-ball linebacker, while also standing on the edge and get around offensive tackles and into the backfield as a rush linebacker. Gill has tremendous ball skills with his length and hands a force in pass coverage. Has a frame that could add more weight but is light on his feet and really agile in coverage.