UCLA plucked another prospect from high school powerhouse De La Salle on Wednesday as safety/linebacker Je’Vari Anderson announced his verbal commitment to the Bruins for the 2018 recruiting class.
Anderson went to Laney College out of De La Salle, the Bay Area school that also produced UCLA defensive lineman Boss Tagaloa and tight end Devin Asiasi. The 6-foot, 220-pound recruit is head coach Chip Kelly’s 14th known verbal commit for the 2018 class with two weeks left until National Signing Day.
During two seasons at Laney, Anderson had 32 tackles and three interceptions. He was also considering Kansas State, Cincinnati and UNLV.
Anderson is the second defensive back commit for the Bruins during the past week and third overall. He joins fellow three-star prospect Patrick Jolly, who pledged to UCLA on Sunday, and St. John Bosco High safety Stephan Blaylock, who signed his national letter of intent last month.
Anderson’s versatility could also allow him to bolster UCLA’s thin linebacker group that struggled with injuries last season. The Bruins were so shorthanded at linebacker that they made a midseason move to convert Keisean Lucier-South from defensive line. UCLA’s old coaching staff frequently converted defensive backs to linebackers as three of the team’s linebackers last season — DeChaun Holiday, Brandon Burton and Leni Toailoa — were recruited to play in the secondary.
Kelly’s recruiting class ranks 31st in the country and fourth in the Pac-12, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings. With eight commits already signed, the Bruins can ink the remainder of their recruiting class on Feb. 7, the first day of the traditional signing period.
