Bruins Closing Strong in 2017 Class Adding 4-Star CB Elijah Gates
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Bruins 2017 class is picking up steam landing their ninth verbal commitment in the month of January on Monday with the addition of four-star cornerback Elijah Gates.
Gates was a do-everything kind of talent for Buena Park High School during his senior season pulling in 27 passes for 363 yards with two scores and showcased his open field speed on special teams returning six kickoffs 245 yards with a long of 94 and took four punts back for 107 yards with a long of 50.
Opposing California high school football coaches did not test the 5-10, 170 pound, corner much in the run or in the pass game. Gates had 13 total tackles and picked off three passes with a forced fumble and one pass defended.
Gates picked up offers from teams like Washington State, TCU, UNLV, Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, Utah, San Jose State, San Diego State, Oregon State, Notre Dame, Colorado, Arizona State, and Michigan. The tough decision appeared to come down to Oregon and UCLA with official visits taken to Eugen on Nov. 12 and to Westwood on Nov. 19. Gates made his decision during an announcement ceremony at school.
The Bruins secondary has a really bright future with the coaching staff restocking the shelf with Darney Holmes, Jaylan Shaw, Quentin Lake, and Gates.
247Sports rates UCLA’s class No. 16 in the country, No. 2 overall in the Pac-12, off 18 commits. Rivals has the Bruins at No. 16 with 17 commits, two five-stars (Jaelan Phillips and Darnay Holmes) and five four-stars (Kanan Ray, Jimmy Jaggers, Greg Rogers, Rahyme Johnson, and Gates).
UCLA Bruins 2017 Verbal Commitment List (18)
CB Elijah Gates, 5-10, 170, Buena Park HS, Buena Park, CA
CB Darnay Holmes, 5-10, 190, Calabasas HS, Calabasas, CA
CB Quentin Lake, 6-1, 180, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, CA
CB Jaylan Shaw, 5-11, 170, Centennial HS, Corona, CA
DE Odua Isibor, St. Mary’s HS, Phoenix, AZ
LB/DE Rahyme Johnson, 6-4, 196, Salesian HS, Los Angeles, CA
DE Cassius Peat, 6-3, 258, Prima C.C., Tucson, AZ
DE Jaelan Phillips, 6-5, 235, Redlands East Valley HS, Redlands, CA
DT Martin Andrus, 6-1, 280, Los Angeles Senior, Los Angeles, CA
DT Greg Rogers, 6-3, 305, Arbor View HS, Las Vegas, NV
OC Zachary Sweeney, 6-3, 270, St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FL
OG Kanan Ray, 6-4, 275, Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, CA
OG Jax Wacaser, 6-5, 260, Saguaro HS, Scottsdale, AZ
OT Jaxson Kirkland, 6-6.5, 314, Jesuit HS, Portland, OR
TE Jimmy Jaggers, 6-4, 244, Roseville HS, Roseville, CA
TE Moses Robinson-Carr, 6-4.5, 240, Antelope Valley, Lancaster, CA
QB Austin Burton, 6-3, 203, West Orange HS, Winter Garden, FL
ATH Morrell Osling, 6-1, 170, Antelope Valley, Lancaster, CA
Photo credit: Campus Sports Net; No. 21 Elijah Gates in a UCLA jersey.