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UCLA Football Recruiting: Jim Mora Excels Early

by Avinash Kunnath • Feb 7, 2012 5:29 PM PST

Whatever Jim Mora is selling in Westwood, big-time recruits are buying in. The UCLA Bruins didn't give much time for Mora to settle in, but he still managed to land perhaps the second or third most complete recruiting class in the Pac-12 after it looked like he was destined for being part of the bottom.

Ben Glicksman of Sports Illustrated reports on how good a job Mora did, in fact ranking him second among all incoming coaches in his performance behind only Urban Meyer of Ohio State.

A. Despite NFL lifers' historical proclivity for flailing in recruiting circles (see: Gailey, Chan), Mora has thrived since taking the reins Dec. 13. The Bruins landed the No. 12 class in the nation (they ranked No. 44 in 2011), and half of that haul committed after Mora's hiring. Among the headliners: U.S. Army All-Americans quarterback Devin Fuller, defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy and wide receiver Jordan Payton -- the latter two of whom flipped from Pac-12 rivals on or before Signing Day.

Landing kids like McCarthy and Adams (both of whom are bona fide talents) is a big step in the right direction for the Bruins. Getting an athlete like Fuller is also positive. The Bruins seem to be benefitting from the lack of scholarships USC can hand out, and are getting some quality talent from everywhere else.

To read the full article from Glicksman of Sports Illustrated, click here.

To discuss UCLA football recruiting, head on over to Bruins Nation.