University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Football Adds 16 During Early Signing Period
December 16, 2020 | Football
LOS ANGELES -- Sixteen standout high school seniors signed national letters-of-intent, grants-in-aid and/or offers of admission to UCLA during the early signing period, Bruin head football coach Chip Kelly announced. Seven of the student-athletes attended high school in the state of California, two in Alabama, two in Arizona and one each in Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio.
2021 UCLA FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS (EARLY SIGNING PERIOD)
CHRISTIAN BURKHALTER / OLB / 6'5" / 230 LBS / SPANISH FORT, ALA. (SPANISH FORT HS)
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 13 tight end-Y by ESPN โฆ No. 24 weakside defensive end by Rivals โฆ No. 235 prospect in Southeast region by ESPN โฆ No. 19 prospect in state of Alabama by ESPN and Rivals โฆ named to 2020 Alabama MaxPreps All-State second team โฆ Toros advanced to AHSAA Class 6A championship game in 2019, 2020 โฆ tallied 92 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks in 2019 โฆ also plays basketball for SFHS โฆ also attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
AJ CAMPBELL / DL / 6'4" / 245 LBS / AKRON, OHIO (COPLEY HS)
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 39 weakside defensive end by Rivals โฆ No. 156 defensive end by ESPN โฆ No. 188 prospect in Midwest region by ESPN โฆ No. 37 prospect in state of Ohio by Rivals โฆ contributed 83 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and two interceptions in 2020 โฆ named OHSAA Division III All-Ohio Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 โฆ chosen All-District Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 โฆ selected Suburban League Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 โฆ logged 44 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in 2019; also played offense for Copley, recording six touchdowns.
THOMAS COLE / OL / 6'7" / 280 LBS / SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. (SAN LUIS OBISPO HS)
Four-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ three-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 34 offensive tackle by 247Sports โฆ No. 69 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ top-40 prospect in state of California by 247Sports (32) and ESPN (40) โฆ also plays defense for Tigers and piled up 99 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss and 17.0 sacks in 2019 โฆ selected to All-Pac 4 first team in 2019 โฆ named to Cal-Hi Sports All-State (Juniors) first team in 2019.
GARRETT DIGIORGIO / OL / 6'7" / 295 LBS / PHELAN, CALIF. (SERRANO HS)
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 54 offensive tackle by 247Sports โฆ top-60 prospect in state of California by 247Sports (53) and Rivals (57) โฆ selected to All-Mojave River League in 2019 โฆ named to Victorville Daily Press all-area team in 2019 โฆ Diamondbacks posted 12-1 record and reached CIF-SS Division 7 semifinal round in 2019.
KAJIYA HOLLAWAYNE / QB / 6'3" / 205 LBS / SAN JACINTO, CALIF. (SAN JACINTO HS)
Four-star recruit according to ESPN โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Rivals โฆ No. 11 dual-threat quarterback by ESPN โฆ No. 60 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 34 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ completed 166 of 287 passes for 2,330 yards, 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2019; also rushed 134 times for 932 yards and 13 touchdowns โฆ Tigers reached CIF-SS Division 6 semifinal round in 2019 โฆ has completed 483 of 860 passes for 6,780 yards, 64 touchdowns and 33 interceptions in prep career (2017-19): has also rushed 348 times for 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns โฆ attended Elite 11 Los Angeles Regional in 2020 โฆ SJHS went 12-1 and advanced to CIF-SS Division 7 championship game in 2018 โฆ averaged 9.6 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game and 1.2 steals per game for San Jacinto basketball team in 2019-20; also played baseball.
DJ JUSTICE / WR / 6'1" / 180 LBS / MISSION HILLS, CALIF. (BISHOP ALEMANY HS)
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 87 wide receiver by Rivals โฆ No. 118 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 46 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ registered 43 receptions for 707 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019 โฆ Warriors advanced to CIF-Southern Section Division 3 semifinal round in 2019 โฆ son of three-time MLB All-Star David Justice, who helped Atlanta Braves (1995) and New York Yankees (2000) to World Series championships โฆ also attended Cathedral Catholic HS in San Diego.
TYLER KIEHNE / OLB / 6'3" / 250 LBS / LOS LUNAS, N.M. (LOS LUNAS HS)
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 81 strongside defensive end by 247Sports โฆ No. 113 defensive end by ESPN โฆ No. 136 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ top-10 prospect in state of New Mexico by 247Sports (1) and ESPN (2) โฆ logged 56 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks in 2019 โฆ Tigers reached NMAA Class 5A state championship game in 2019 โฆ selected to Albuquerque Journal All-Metro first team in 2019 โฆ also plays basketball for Los Lunas.
DEVIN KIRKWOOD / DB / 6'3" / 175 LBS / GARDENA, CALIF. (JUNIPERO SERRA HS)
Four-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ ranked No. 176 overall by Rivals โฆ No. 16 cornerback by Rivals โฆ No. 18 athlete by 247Sports โฆ No. 55 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 16 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ chosen to compete in 2021 Under Armour All-America Game โฆ registered 34 tackles and one interception in 2019 โฆ also competes in sprint and relay events for Serra track and field team.
KEONTEZ LEWIS / WR / 6'2" / 185 LBS / EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. (EAST ST. LOUIS SENIOR HS)
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 57 wide receiver by 247Sports โฆNo. 90 prospect in Midwest region by ESPN โฆ No. 7 prospect in state of Illinois by Rivals โฆ registered 32 receptions for 802 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019 โฆ posted five catches for 105 yards and one touchdown in 2019 IHSA Class 5A championship game win over Prairie Ridge HS; Flyers finished 14-0 โฆ has totaled 55 receptions for 1,162 yards and 13 touchdowns in prep career (2017-19) โฆ also competes in sprint and relay events for ESLHS track and field team.
JOSH MOORE / DB / 6'2" / 195 LBS / ATLANTA, GA. (MARIST SCHOOL)
Four-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ three-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 25 safety by 247Sports โฆ No. 71 wide receiver by Rivals โฆ No. 268 prospect in Southeast region by ESPN โฆ No. 22 prospect in state of Georgia by 247Sports โฆ also played wide receiver for War Eagles โฆ Marist is 11-0 and set to play in GHSA Class 4A semifinal round.
DESHUN MURRELL / RB / 6'1" / 185 LBS / CENTREVILLE, ALA. (BIBB COUNTY HS)
Four-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ three-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 19 running back by 247Sports โฆ No. 345 prospect in Southeast region by ESPN โฆ top-20 prospect in state of Alabama by 247Sports (14) and Rivals (12) โฆ rushed for 2,334 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2020 โฆ rushed for 2,174 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2019 โฆ Choctaws advanced to third round of AHSAA State Championships in 2017 (Class 4A), 2019 (5A) and 2020 (4A) โฆ also competes in sprint and jump events for BCHS track and field teams; posted personal-best time of 49.93 in 400-meter dash at 2020 AHSAA Indoor State Championships.
ISAIAH NEWCOMBE / ATH / 6'1" / 185 LBS / QUEEN CREEK, ARIZ. (CASTEEL HS)
Four-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ three-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 23 athlete by 247Sports โฆ No. 148 wide receiver by ESPN โฆ No. 126 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 6 prospect in state of Arizona by 247Sports โฆ registered 77 receptions for 857 yards and seven touchdowns in 2020; also returned 17 kickoffs for 374 yards (22.0 yards per return) and punted 27 times for 860 yards (31.9 yards per punt) โฆ has totaled 125 receptions for 1,518 yards and 14 touchdowns in prep career (2019, 2020) โฆ Honorable Mention pick to Sports360AZ All-Academic Team in 2019 โฆ also competes in sprint and relay events for CHS track and field team; also plays basketballโฆ son of former Nebraska standout and NFL draft pick Bobby Newcombe, who serves as Casteel football head coach.
NOAH PULEALII / OL / 6'4" / 310 LBS / SALINAS, CALIF. (PALMA SCHOOL)
Four-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ three-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 16 offensive guard by 247Sports โฆ No. 33 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ selected to 2021 Polynesian Bowl roster โฆ named to All-PCAL first team in 2019 โฆ saw action for Palma's basketball team.
BENJAMIN ROY / OL / 6'3" / 285 LBS / HENDERSON, NEV. (LIBERTY HS)
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ top-20 center by 247Sports (14) and ESPN 11) โฆ No. 145 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ top-10 prospect in state of Nevada by 247Sports (5), Rivals (8) and ESPN (8) โฆ Patriots captured 2019 NIAA Class 4A state title, the first in program history.
QUINTIN SOMERVILLE / DL / 6'2" / 230 LBS / SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (SAGUARO HS)
Four-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ ranked No. 106 on ESPN 300 list โฆ No. 12 defensive end by ESPN โฆ No. 16 weakside defensive end by Rivals โฆ No. 29 strongside defensive end by 247Sports โฆ No. 15 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ top-10 prospect in state of Arizona by 247Sports (10), Rivals (5) and ESPN (2) ... totaled 146 tackles, 59.5 tackles for loss and 16.0 sacks in prep career (2017-20) โฆ selected to West roster for 2021 All-American Bowl โฆ recorded 68 tackles, 29.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 2019 โฆ Sabercats reached AIA Open Division championship game in 2019 โฆ Honorable Mention pick to Sports360AZ All-Academic Team in 2018-20.
EZAVIER STAPLES / WR / 6'2" / 180 LBS / LONG BEACH, CALIF. (MILLIKAN HS)
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 72 wide receiver by 247Sports โฆ No. 96 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ. No. 41 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ registered 50 receptions for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019 โฆ named to 2019 Long Beach Dream Team Second Team by Long Beach Press-Telegram โฆ also competes in sprint, hurdle and relay events for MHS track and field team.
| NAME | POS | HT | WT | HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL) |
| Christian Burkhalter | OLB | 6'5" | 230 lbs | Spanish Fort, Ala. (Spanish Fort HS) |
| AJ Campbell | DL | 6'4" | 245 lbs | Akron, Ohio (Copley HS) |
| Thomas Cole | OL | 6'7" | 280 lbs | San Luis Obispo, Calif. (San Luis Obispo HS) |
| Garrett DiGiorgio | OL | 6'7" | 295 lbs | Phelan, Calif. (Serrano HS) |
| Kajiya Hollawayne | QB | 6'3" | 205 lbs | San Jacinto, Calif. (San Jacinto HS) |
| DJ Justice | WR | 6'1" | 180 lbs | Mission Hills, Calif. (Bishop Alemany HS) |
| Tyler Kiehne | OLB | 6'3" | 250 lbs | Los Lunas, N.M. (Los Lunas HS) |
| Devin Kirkwood | DB | 6'3" | 175 lbs | Gardena, Calif. (Junipero Serra HS) |
| Keontez Lewis | WR | 6'2" | 185 lbs | East St. Louis, Ill. (East St. Louis Senior HS) |
| Josh Moore | DB | 6'2" | 195 lbs | Atlanta, Ga. (Marist School) |
| Deshun Murrell | RB | 6'1" | 185 lbs | Centreville, Ala. (Bibb County HS) |
| Isaiah Newcombe | ATH | 6'1" | 185 lbs | Queen Creek, Ariz. (Casteel HS) |
| Noah Pulealii | OL | 6'4" | 310 lbs | Salinas, Calif. (Palma School) |
| Benjamin Roy | OL | 6'3" | 285 lbs | Henderson, Nev. (Liberty HS) |
| Quintin Somerville | DL | 6'2" | 230 lbs | Scottsdale, Ariz. (Saguaro HS) |
| Ezavier Staples | WR | 6'2" | 180 lbs | Long Beach, Calif. (Millikan HS) |
Players Mentioned
