Football Announces 13 Signings to Start Early Signing Period
December 21, 2022 | Football
LOS ANGELES – Thirteen standout high school seniors signed national letters of intent to UCLA during the early signing period, Bruin head football coach Chip Kelly announced. Seven of the student-athletes are from the state of California, two are from Hawaii, two are from Nevada, one is from Michigan and one is from Washington.
2023 UCLA FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS (EARLY SIGNING PERIOD)
As of 5 p.m. PT on Dec. 21, 2022
GRANT BUCKEY / DL / 6-5 / 265 LBS / BAKERSFIELD, CALIF. / LIBERTY HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … No. 60 defensive lineman by 247Sports … No. 44 prospect in state of California by 247Sports … No. 71 defensive end by ESPN … No. 91 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 56 prospect in state of California by ESPN … No. 39 strongside defensive end by Rivals … No. 39 prospect in state of California by Rivals … put up 64 total tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, one fumble recovered and one fumble forced in 2022 … recorded 115 total tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks, three fumbles recovered and four fumbles forced in varsity career … Patriots defeated Pittsburg HS 48-20 to win CIF Division 1-A state championship in 2022 … Liberty knocked off San Joaquin Memorial HS 29-13 to capture CIF Central Section Division 1 title in 2022 … father, Jeff, played football at Stanford and for NFL's Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, while brother, Zach, plays football at Stanford.
ISAIAH CARLSON / RB / 6-1 / 230 LBS / FERNDALE, WASH. / FERNDALE HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … No. 39 athlete by 247Sports … No. 12 prospect in state of Washington by 247Sports … No. 59 outside linebacker by ESPN … No. 123 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 10 prospect in state of Washington by ESPN … No. 8 prospect in state of Washington by Rivals … rushed for 1,594 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2022; also had 54 total tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss … accumulated 57 rushing touchdowns in varsity career, setting school record … chosen to All-Wesco 3A North first teams as running back and linebacker … registered 26 carries for 178 yards and three touchdowns as Golden Eagles bested Monroe HS 34-28 to claim Wesco 3A championship in 2022 … also competed for basketball team at Ferndale.
LUKE DUNCAN / QB / 6-6 / 185 LBS / ORINDA, CALIF. / MIRAMONTE HS
Four-star recruit according to Rivals … three-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN … No. 27 quarterback by 247Sports … No. 39 prospect in state of California by 247Sports … No. 34 pocket-passer quarterback by ESPN … No. 149 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 92 prospect in state of California by ESPN … No. 14 pro-style quarterback by Rivals … No. 23 prospect in state of California by Rivals … completed 226 or 370 passes (61.1%) for 3,415 yards, 42 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2022 … completed 430 of 730 passes (58.9%) for 6,372 yards, 72 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in varsity career … Matadors reached CIF North Coast Section Division 5 championship game … also competed for basketball team at Miramonte.
TRE EDWARDS / LB / 6-1 / 220 LBS / CHULA VISTA, CALIF. / MATER DEI CATHOLIC
Four-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN … three-star recruit according to Rivals … No. 31 linebacker by 247Sports … No. 25 prospect in state of California by 247Sports … No. 14 inside linebacker by ESPN … No. 52 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 31 prospect in state of California by ESPN … No. 22 inside linebacker by Rivals … No. 40 prospect in state of California by Rivals … made 77 total tackles and 12.0 tackles for loss in 2022 … Crusaders beat McClymonds HS 26-18 to collect CIF Division 2-AA state title in 2022; Mater Dei Catholic also earned crown in 2021 … named to West roster for 2023 All-American Bowl … earned All-CIF San Diego Section and Defensive Player of the Year honors after racking up 96 total tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and one fumble forced in 2021; also picked up Mesa League First Team and Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
A.J. FUIMAONO / DL / 6-3 / 280 LBS / LAS VEGAS, NEV. / LIBERTY HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals … No. 90 defensive lineman by 247Sports … No. 8 prospect in state of Nevada by 247Sports … No. 76 defensive tackle by ESPN … No. 191 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 12 prospect in state of Nevada by ESPN … No. 10 prospect in state of Nevada by Rivals … also attended Waipahu HS in Waipahu, Hawaii … collected 27 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and one fumble forced in 2022 … named to roster for 2023 Polynesian Bowl … earned spot on Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada first team in 2022.
GRANT GRAY / WR / 6-3 / 180 LBS / NORCO, CALIF. / NORCO HS
Four-star recruit according to Rivals … three-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN … ranked No. 145 overall by Rivals … No. 83 wide receiver by 247Sports … No. 52 prospect in state of California by 247Sports … No. 65 wide receiver by ESPN … No. 85 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 52 prospect in state of California by ESPN … No. 25 wide receiver by Rivals … No. 13 prospect in state of California by Rivals … posted 74 catches for 862 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022 … recorded 166 receptions for 2,374 yards and 30 touchdowns in varsity career … tabbed The Press-Enterprise IE Varsity Boys Athlete of the Year in 2022 … also competed for baseball team at Norco.
R.J. JONES / DB / 6-1 / 195 LBS / PASADENA, CALIF. / ST. JOHN BOSCO HS
Four-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals … three-star recruit according to 247Sports … No. 45 safety by 247Sports … No. 42 prospect in state of California by 247Sports … No. 24 safety by ESPN ... No. 49 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 28 prospect in state of California by ESPN … No. 34 safety by Rivals … No. 29 prospect in state of California by Rivals … made 27 total tackles in 2022 … Braves defeated Serra 45-0 to secure CIF Open Division state championship in 2022 … St. John Bosco topped Mater Dei 24-22 to pick up CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship in 2022.
TY LEE / LB / 6-3 / 190 LBS / GARDEN GROVE, CALIF. / ST. JOHN BOSCO HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … No. 45 safety by 247Sports … No. 44 prospect in state of California by 247Sports … No. 48 safety by ESPN … No. 100 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 61 prospect in state of California by ESPN … No. 51 safety by Rivals … No. 46 prospect in state of California by Rivals … posted 48 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and 2.0 sacks in 2022 … logged 89 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception and two fumbles recovered in varsity career … Braves defeated Serra 45-0 to secure CIF Open Division state championship in 2022 … St. John Bosco topped Mater Dei 24-22 to pick up CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship in 2022.
SOLOMONE MALAFU / LB / 6-1 / 225 LBS / KAPA'A, HAWAII / KAPA'A HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … No. 51 linebacker by 247Sports … No. 5 prospect in state of Hawaii by 247Sports … No. 29 inside linebacker by ESPN … No. 124 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 3 prospect in state of Hawaii by ESPN … No. 37 outside linebacker by Rivals … No. 4 prospect in state of Hawaii by Rivals … Warriors beat Kamehameha-Maui 61-7 to take HHSAA Division2 state championship in 2021 … named to roster for 2023 Polynesian Bowl … earned Herman Wedemeyer Iron Man of the Year Award (best two-way player in state) in 2022 … chosen All-State First Team Defense by Star-Advertiser in 2021 … also competed for basketball team at Kapa'a.
JEREMIAH MCCLURE / WR / 6-2 / 195 LBS / CHULA VISTA, CALIF. / MATER DEI CATHOLIC
Four-star recruit according to ESPN … three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Rivals … ranked No. 198 overall by ESPN … No. 61 wide receiver by 247Sports … No. 37 prospect in state of California by 247Sports … No. 23 wide receiver by ESPN … No. 23 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 15 prospect in state of California by ESPN … No. 24 athlete by Rivals … No. 32 prospect in state of California by Rivals … also attended St. Augustine HS in San Diego … logged 53 receptions for 923 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022 … Crusaders beat McClymonds HS 26-18 to collect CIF Division 2-AA state title in 2022; Mater Dei Catholic also earned crown in 2021.
DANTE MOORE / QB / 6-3 / 210 LBS / DETROIT, MICH. / MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SENIOR HS
Five-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … ranked No. 3 overall by 247Sports and ESPN … ranked No. 4 overall by Rivals … No. 3 quarterback by 247Sports … No. 3 pocket-passer quarterback by ESPN … No. 3 pro-style quarterback by Rivals … No. 1 prospect in state of Michigan by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … completed 175 of 252 passes (69.4%) for 2,392 yards, 32 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2022 … completed 171 of 244 passes (70.1%) and set school records for passing yards (3,050) and passing touchdowns (40) in 2021 … threw for 9,880 yards and 135 touchdowns with 20 interceptions in varsity career … Crusaders defeated Muskegon 56-27 to capture MHSAA Division 3 state championship in 2022; King also earned crown in 2021 … tabbed Michigan Associated Press Division 3-4 Player of the Year in 2022 … named to East roster for 2023 All-American Bowl … selected 2021 MaxPreps High School Michigan Player of the Year.
DONAVYN PELLOT / LB / 6-2 / 210 LBS / LAS VEGAS, NEV. / SILVERADO HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals … No. 30 athlete by 247Sports … No. 4 prospect in state of Nevada by 247Sports … No. 63 athlete by ESPN … No. 116 prospect in West region by ESPN … No. 9 prospect in state of Nevada by ESPN … registered 49 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and three interceptions in 2022; also had 66 carries for 501 yards and 14 touchdowns, as well as 32 catches for 829 yards and 11 touchdowns … logged 115 total tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries in varsity career; also had 126 rushes for 1,093 yards and 24 touchdowns, as well as 61 receptions for 1,461 yards and 18 touchdowns …Skyhawks knocked off Shadow Ridge 51-27 to win 4A state championship in 2022; Silverado also won top prize in 2021 … earned spot on Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada first team in 2021, 2022 … named MaxPreps Overall Silverado Football Player of the Year in 2022 … also competed for basketball team at Silverado.
TAVAKE TUIKOLOVATU / OL / 6-6 / 300 LBS / MAUI, HAWAII / SUMMIT HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Rivals … No. 53 offensive lineman by 247Sports … No. 59 prospect in state of California by 247Sports … No. 69 prospect in state of California by Rivals … logged 44 total tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one fumble recovery and one fumble forced in 2022.
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Players Mentioned
