University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Football Announces 13 Signings to Start Early Signing Period
December 21, 2022 | Football
LOS ANGELES โ 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 5ย 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 โฆ No. 60 defensive lineman by 247Sports โฆ No. 44 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 71 defensive end by ESPN โฆ No. 91 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 56 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 39 strongside defensive end by Rivals โฆ No. 39 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ put up 64 total tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, one fumble recovered and one fumble forced in 2022 โฆ recorded 115 total tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks, three fumbles recovered and four fumbles forced in varsity career โฆ Patriots defeated Pittsburg HS 48-20 to win CIF Division 1-A state championship in 2022 โฆ Liberty knocked off San Joaquin Memorial HS 29-13 to capture CIF Central Section Division 1 title in 2022 โฆ 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 โฆ No. 39 athlete by 247Sports โฆ No. 12 prospect in state of Washington by 247Sports โฆ No. 59 outside linebacker by ESPN โฆ No. 123 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 10 prospect in state of Washington by ESPN โฆ No. 8 prospect in state of Washington by Rivals โฆ rushed for 1,594 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2022; also had 54 total tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss โฆ accumulated 57 rushing touchdowns in varsity career, setting school record โฆ chosen to All-Wesco 3A North first teams as running back and linebacker โฆ registered 26 carries for 178 yards and three touchdowns as Golden Eagles bested Monroe HS 34-28 to claim Wesco 3A championship in 2022 โฆ also competed for basketball team at Ferndale.
LUKE DUNCAN / QB / 6-6 / 185 LBS / ORINDA, CALIF. / MIRAMONTE HS
Four-star recruit according to Rivals โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN โฆ No. 27 quarterback by 247Sports โฆ No. 39 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 34 pocket-passer quarterback by ESPN โฆ No. 149 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 92 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 14 pro-style quarterback by Rivals โฆ No. 23 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ completed 226 or 370 passes (61.1%) for 3,415 yards, 42 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2022 โฆ completed 430 of 730 passes (58.9%) for 6,372 yards, 72 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in varsity career โฆ Matadors reached CIF North Coast Section Division 5 championship game โฆ 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 โฆ three-star recruit according to Rivals โฆ No. 31 linebacker by 247Sports โฆ No. 25 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 14 inside linebacker by ESPN โฆ No. 52 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 31 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 22 inside linebacker by Rivals โฆ No. 40 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ made 77 total tackles and 12.0 tackles for loss in 2022 โฆ Crusaders beat McClymonds HS 26-18 to collect CIF Division 2-AA state title in 2022; Mater Dei Catholic also earned crown in 2021 โฆ named to West roster for 2023 All-American Bowl โฆ 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 โฆ No. 90 defensive lineman by 247Sports โฆ No. 8 prospect in state of Nevada by 247Sports โฆ No. 76 defensive tackle by ESPN โฆ No. 191 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 12 prospect in state of Nevada by ESPN โฆ No. 10 prospect in state of Nevada by Rivals โฆ also attended Waipahu HS in Waipahu, Hawaii โฆ collected 27 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and one fumble forced in 2022 โฆ named to roster for 2023 Polynesian Bowl โฆ 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 โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN โฆ ranked No. 145 overall by Rivals โฆ No. 83 wide receiver by 247Sports โฆ No. 52 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 65 wide receiver by ESPN โฆ No. 85 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 52 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 25 wide receiver by Rivals โฆ No. 13 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ posted 74 catches for 862 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022 โฆ recorded 166 receptions for 2,374 yards and 30 touchdowns in varsity career โฆ tabbed The Press-Enterprise IE Varsity Boys Athlete of the Year in 2022 โฆ 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 โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ No. 45 safety by 247Sports โฆ No. 42 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 24 safety by ESPN ... No. 49 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 28 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 34 safety by Rivals โฆ No. 29 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ made 27 total tackles in 2022 โฆ Braves defeated Serra 45-0 to secure CIF Open Division state championship in 2022 โฆ 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 โฆ No. 45 safety by 247Sports โฆ No. 44 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 48 safety by ESPN โฆ No. 100 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 61 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 51 safety by Rivals โฆ No. 46 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ posted 48 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and 2.0 sacks in 2022 โฆ logged 89 total tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception and two fumbles recovered in varsity career โฆ Braves defeated Serra 45-0 to secure CIF Open Division state championship in 2022 โฆ 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 โฆ No. 51 linebacker by 247Sports โฆ No. 5 prospect in state of Hawaii by 247Sports โฆ No. 29 inside linebacker by ESPN โฆ No. 124 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 3 prospect in state of Hawaii by ESPN โฆ No. 37 outside linebacker by Rivals โฆ No. 4 prospect in state of Hawaii by Rivals โฆ Warriors beat Kamehameha-Maui 61-7 to take HHSAA Division2 state championship in 2021 โฆ named to roster for 2023 Polynesian Bowl โฆ earned Herman Wedemeyer Iron Man of the Year Award (best two-way player in state) in 2022 โฆ chosen All-State First Team Defense by Star-Advertiser in 2021 โฆ 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 โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Rivals โฆ ranked No. 198 overall by ESPN โฆ No. 61 wide receiver by 247Sports โฆ No. 37 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 23 wide receiver by ESPN โฆ No. 23 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 15 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 24 athlete by Rivals โฆ No. 32 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ also attended St. Augustine HS in San Diego โฆ logged 53 receptions for 923 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022 โฆ 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 โฆ ranked No. 3 overall by 247Sports and ESPN โฆ ranked No. 4 overall by Rivals โฆ No. 3 quarterback by 247Sports โฆ No. 3 pocket-passer quarterback by ESPN โฆ No. 3 pro-style quarterback by Rivals โฆ No. 1 prospect in state of Michigan by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ completed 175 of 252 passes (69.4%) for 2,392 yards, 32 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2022 โฆ completed 171 of 244 passes (70.1%) and set school records for passing yards (3,050) and passing touchdowns (40) in 2021 โฆ threw for 9,880 yards and 135 touchdowns with 20 interceptions in varsity career โฆ Crusaders defeated Muskegon 56-27 to capture MHSAA Division 3 state championship in 2022; King also earned crown in 2021 โฆ tabbed Michigan Associated Press Division 3-4 Player of the Year in 2022 โฆ named to East roster for 2023 All-American Bowl โฆ 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 โฆ No. 30 athlete by 247Sports โฆ No. 4 prospect in state of Nevada by 247Sports โฆ No. 63 athlete by ESPN โฆ No. 116 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 9 prospect in state of Nevada by ESPN โฆ 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 โฆ 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 โฆSkyhawks knocked off Shadow Ridge 51-27 to win 4A state championship in 2022; Silverado also won top prize in 2021 โฆ earned spot on Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada first team in 2021, 2022 โฆ named MaxPreps Overall Silverado Football Player of the Year in 2022 โฆ 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 โฆ No. 53 offensive lineman by 247Sports โฆ No. 59 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 69 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ 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
