UCLA Football: Bruins Beefing Up Edge Rusher Depth With Local Help
The lifeblood of any successful College Football program is recruiting.
Former UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly didn't understand that premise very much. Under his regime, UCLA plummeted toward the bottom of the conference recruiting ranks over sheer negligence and laziness.
Trying to turn that narrative around, new head coach DeShaun Foster has taken a far more active approach to recruiting. He and his staff have been dogged in getting recruits on campus where they can interact with the players and by extension the program as a whole.
The hard work paid off Friday afternoon, as rising 2025 prospect Scott Taylor committed to the Bruins.
Taylor hails from nearby Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He chose the Bruins over Arizona and a number of smaller schools.
At nearly 6'5" and 230 pounds, Taylor has a frame to gain even more weight when entering a proper strength and conditioning program. There's a lot to like about his make-up as an athlete in general.
Taylor's dad played football at Stanford. He had several cousins and other family members feature as athletes collegiately and in the professional ranks. A star soccer player as a youngster, Taylor reportedly had an opportunity to play for LAFC's U-17 team before focusing on football full-time. He also is a prolific track athlete at Loyola.
There's no denying the athleticism Taylor brings to the table. He can play as an outside linebacker/defensive end -- and also as a tight end. This sort of positional versatility is something all college programs welcome.
Taylor is just scratching the surface as to how good he can be. He plays with terrific energy and enthusiasm. A meteoric rise from a ranking standpoint could very well come this upcoming season with a strong senior year.
UCLA did the smart thing in getting out in front of this recruitment early before Taylor blows up and garners offers from other programs. Foster and his staff made a real connection with Taylor and continued having him visit the campus.
By doing so, the Bruins may have landed a real steal. Taylor is the fourth known commitment for the current 2025 class. He joins LB Weston Port, DB Chase Coleman and DB Kuron Jabari Jr.
