I think this has been discussed here (but I can't search for old threads, so here it goes): UCLA's talent drain is continuing at a fierce pace.
The team has zero returning all conference players (including honorable mention). Kelley, Barnes, and both specialists are out of eligibility, while Holmes and Asiasi are leaving early for the NFL.
It's old news that a ton of players left or were not welcome back when Chip Kelly arrived. Just to give color to the extent of the roster turnover, however, zero 4/5-star recruits will remain from the terrific 2016 class and Elijah Gates is the only former 4/5-star recruit returning from the 2017 class.
It's true that healthy roster turnover can work out well in some circumstances, but the roster turnover at UCLA hasn't all been healthy. The players Chip Kelly has recruited don't justify his decision to run off so many players who were there when he arrived. In the 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes combined, Kelly has landed only four 4/5-star recruits. The 2018 class was Kelly's best, but the top recruit in that class has been a disappointment at QB and the #3 recruit in that class is in the portal.
UCLA may turn things around at some point, but it seems clear that Stanford fans should celebrate the return of Chip Kelly for another year.
The team has zero returning all conference players (including honorable mention). Kelley, Barnes, and both specialists are out of eligibility, while Holmes and Asiasi are leaving early for the NFL.
It's old news that a ton of players left or were not welcome back when Chip Kelly arrived. Just to give color to the extent of the roster turnover, however, zero 4/5-star recruits will remain from the terrific 2016 class and Elijah Gates is the only former 4/5-star recruit returning from the 2017 class.
It's true that healthy roster turnover can work out well in some circumstances, but the roster turnover at UCLA hasn't all been healthy. The players Chip Kelly has recruited don't justify his decision to run off so many players who were there when he arrived. In the 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes combined, Kelly has landed only four 4/5-star recruits. The 2018 class was Kelly's best, but the top recruit in that class has been a disappointment at QB and the #3 recruit in that class is in the portal.
UCLA may turn things around at some point, but it seems clear that Stanford fans should celebrate the return of Chip Kelly for another year.
