Ten New Bruins Sign to Kick Off Early Signing Period
December 20, 2023 | Football
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA football program and head coach Chip Kelly announced the signings of 10 standout high school seniors to national letters of intent Wednesday as the early signing period opened. Four of the new Bruins are from the state of California, two hail from Washington and one each from Massachusetts, Michigan, Texas and Utah put pen to paper.
2024 UCLA FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS (EARLY SIGNING PERIOD)
As of 3 p.m. PT on Dec. 20, 2023
JAMIR BENJAMIN / DB / 5-10 / 170 LBS / WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICH. / WEST BLOOMFIELD HS
Four-star recruit according to ESPN โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Rivals โฆ No. 29 cornerback nationally by 247 Sports and ESPN โฆ No. 7 prospect in the state of Michigan by ESPN โฆ No. 12 prospect in the state of Michigan by 247 Sports โฆ No. 13 prospect in the state of Michigan by Rivals โฆ No. 52 cornerback in the country by Rivals โฆ named to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) Dream Team for the 2023 season โฆ two-time MHSFCA First Team All-State โฆ won a regional championship with West Bloomfield in 2023.
KHRISTIAN DUNBAR-HAWKINS / DB / 5-11 /175 LBS / TUSTIN, CALIF. / TUSTIN HS
Four-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports โฆ ranked the No. 31 cornerback in the country by both ESPN and Rivals โฆ listed as the No. 26 prospect in the state of California by Rivals โฆ No. 33 prospect in the state of California by ESPN โฆ named an Under Armour All-American as a senior, Tustin's first in over 20 years โฆ secured the 2023 Empire League Championship with Tillers โฆ during his senior year, totaled 46 tackles (37 solo, nine assisted) for an average of 4.2 tackles per game โฆ added 22 passes defended, one interception (returned for 70 yards), and one fumble recovery โฆ on the offensive side of the ball, had 195 yards of total offense (85 rushing, 110 receiving) and five touchdowns (two rushing, three receiving) โฆ also prepped at Mater Dei HS (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Bishop Alemany HS (Mission Hills, Calif.).
KWAZI GILMER / WR / 6-2 / 180 LBS / LOS ANGELES, CALIF. / SIERRA CANYON SCHOOL
Four-star recruit according to Rivals โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN โฆ ranked No. 125 overall by Rivals โฆ No. 60 wide receiver by 247Sports โฆ No. 32 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 55 wide receiver by ESPN โฆ No. 64 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 37 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 27 wide receiver by Rivals โฆ No. 17 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ tallied 35 catches for 663 yards and six touchdowns in 2023 โฆ earned spot on All-Mission League First Team in 2023 โฆ totaled 87 receptions for 1,63- yards and 18 touchdowns in varsity career โฆ Trailblazers beat Santa Margarita Catholic HS 37-20 to reach CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinal in 2023; SCS finished season 11-1 and semifinal-round appearance was first in school history โฆ also attended Chaminade College Preparatory (West Hills, Calif.), earning All-Mission League Second Team recognition in 2022, and Palisades Charter HS (Los Angeles).
KARSON GORDON / QB / 6-1 / 171 LBS / BELLAIRE, TEXAS / EPISCOPAL HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 70 quarterback by 247Sports โฆ No. 194 prospect in state of Texas by 247Sports โฆ No. 19 dual-threat quarterback by ESPN โฆ No. 159 prospect in Midlands region by ESPN โฆ No. 127 prospect in state of Texas by ESPN โฆ Knights beat Kincaid School 35-25 to claim SPC 4A state championship in 2023 โฆ earned All-SPC recognition in 2023 and 2022 โฆ completed 158 of 250 passes (63.2%) for 2,157 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2022; also rushed 84 times for 699 yards and eight scores โฆ earned 2022-23 Gatorade Texas Boys Track & Field Player of the Year award โฆ won national championship in triple jump with try of 51 feet, 4 ยผ inches at Nike Outdoor Nationals; personal-best attempt of 51 feet, 5 ยพ inches came at Texas Clyde Littlefield Relays earlier in season โฆ also attended Ridge Point HS in Missouri City, Texas.
HENRY HASSELBECK / QB / 6-3 / 180 LBS / WESTWOOD, MASS. / XAVERIAN BROTHERS HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 54 quarterback by 247Sports โฆ No. 4 prospect in state of Massachusetts by 247Sports โฆ No. 42 pocket-passer quarterback by ESPN โฆ No. 129 prospect in East region by ESPN โฆNo. 5 prospect in state of Massachusetts by ESPN โฆ No. 5 prospect in state of Massachusetts by Rivals โฆ tabbed MVP of Catholic Conference in 2023 โฆ Hawks knocked off St. John's Prep 31-25 to claim MIAA Division I state championship in 2023 โฆ also competes for lacrosse and track and field teams at Xaverian โฆ father, Matt, played 18 seasons in National Football League and was three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who guided Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl XL.
CAMERON JONES / RB / 6-1 / 215 LBS / RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIF. / ST. JOHN BOSCO HS
Four-star recruit according to Rivals โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN โฆ ranked No. 199 overall by Rivals โฆ No. 51 running back by 247Sports โฆ No. 47 prospect in state of California by 247Sports โฆ No. 37 running back by ESPN โฆ No. 66 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 39 prospect in state of California by ESPN โฆ No. 13 running back by Rivals โฆ No. 22 prospect in state of California by Rivals โฆ tabbed Trinity League Co-Offensive Player of the Year after rushing 119 times for 756 yards and three touchdowns while making 11 catches for 98 yards and two scores in 2023 โฆ logged 240 carries for 1,802 yards and 29 touchdowns in varsity career; also had 19 receptions for 207 yards, finding the end zone four times 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.
ISAIAH PATTERSON / LB / 6-3 / 235 LBS / YELM, WASH. / YELM HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals โฆ No. 31 linebacker in the country by 247Sports โฆ No. 10 prospect in the state of Washington by 247 Sports โฆ No. 13 prospect in the state of Washington by ESPN โฆ No. 43 linebacker in the country by Rivals โฆ No. 6 prospect in the state of Washington by Rivals โฆ named First Team All-Area by The News Tribune as a senior โฆ helped Yelm to league championships in each of his four seasons on campus, and won the 3A WIAA State Championship in 2022 โฆ during his senior season, recorded 113 tackles, 18 tackles for loss (TFLs), and three sacks over 14 games โฆ had 72 tackles and 11 TFLs as a junior in 2022.
MARK SCHROLLER / OL / 6-6 / 295 LBS / MISSION VIEJO, CALIF. / MISSION VIEJO HS
Four-star recruit according to Rivals โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN โฆ No. 33 offensive tackle in the country by 247 Sports โฆ No. 36 prospect in the state of California by 247 Sports โฆ No. 50 offensive tackle in the country by ESPN โฆ No. 41 prospect in California and No. 70 prospect in the West Region by ESPN โฆ No. 38 offensive tackle in the country by Rivals โฆ No. 32 prospect in the state of California by Rivals โฆ helped Mission Viejo HS win the 2023 CIF Division 1AA State Championship โฆ father, Karl, played football at UCLA from 1992-94.
JENSEN SOMERVILLE / OL / 6-7 / 280 LBS / LEHI, UTAH / LEHI HS
Four-star recruit according to ESPN โฆ three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Rivals โฆ No. 75 offensive tackle by 247SSports โฆ No. 10 prospect in state of Utah by 247Sports โฆ No. 32 offensive tackle by ESPN โฆ. No. 43 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 3 prospect in state of Utah by ESPN โฆ tabbed member of Deseret News All-State Second Team in 2023 and 2022 โฆ made All-Region First Team in 2022 โฆ earned spot on All-Region Second Team in 2023 and 2021 โฆ Pioneers defeated Timpview HS 29-23 (3OT) to collect 2022 UHSAA 5A state championship in 2022; LHS also won state title in 2021, beating Springville HS 35-6 โฆ also competes in discus and shotput events for track and field team at Lehi.
MARQUISE THORPE-TAYLOR / OL / 6-5 / 315 LBS / TACOMA, WASH. / MOUNT TAHOMA HS
Three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals โฆ No. 30 offensive tackle by 247Sports โฆ No. 8 prospect in state of Washington by 247Sports โฆ No. 53 offensive tackle by ESPN โฆ No. 73 prospect in West region by ESPN โฆ No. 7 prospect in state of Washington by ESPN โฆ No. 77 offensive tackle by Rivals โฆ No. 8 prospect in state of Washington by Rivals โฆ earned spots on All-Pierce County League (PCL) First Team as offensive lineman and Second Team as defensive lineman in 2022 โฆ Thunderbirds captured PCL championship in 2023; league title was school's first since 1982.
| NAME | POS | HT | WT | HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOL) |
| Jamir Benjamin | DB | 5-10 | 170 | West Bloomfield, Mich. (West Bloomfield HS) |
| Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins | DB | 5-11 | 175 | Tustin, Calif. (Tustin HS) |
| Kwazi Gilmer | WR | 6-2 | 180 | Los Angeles, Calif. (Sierra Canyon School) |
| Karson Gordon | QB | 6-1 | 171 | Bellaire, Texas (Episcopal HS) |
| Henry Hasselbeck | QB | 6-3 | 180 | Westwood, Mass. (Xaverian Brothers HS) |
| Cameron Jones | RB | 6-1 | 215 | Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (St. John Bosco HS) |
| Isaiah Patterson | LB | 6-3 | 235 | Yelm, Wash. (Yelm HS) |
| Mark Schroller | OL | 6-6 | 295 | Mission Viejo, Calif. (Mission Viejo HS) |
| Jensen Somerville | OL | 6-7 | 280 | Lehi, Utah (Lehi HS) |
| Marquise Thorpe-Taylor | OL | 6-5 | 315 | Tacoma, Wash. (Mount Tahoma HS) |
