Sierra Canyon 4-Star 2017 OL/DL Kanan Ray Verbally Commits to the UCLA Bruins
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The recruiting process for UCLA with Sierra Canyon offensive and defensive lineman Kanan Ray did not take long. On Feb. 3, just happened to be on National Signing Day for the 2016 recruiting class, in the middle of all the chaos, the Bruins reached out to a backyard talent letting him know just how important he was to UCLA’s 2017 class. By March 4, UCLA landed a verbal commitment from one of their top targets, Kanan Ray.
Ray’s recruiting process essentially went from zero to 60, or more accurately 1 to 17 in about a month’s time. Washington State was the first program to offer extending a scholarship in November, then the dead period hit over the holidays, but as soon as recruiting channels were opened back up, Ray was one of the hottest players on the recruiting trail. The schools rushing to drop a scholarship included Utah, Cal, Oregon State, Louisville, UNLV, San Diego State, Colorado, Arizona, Texas A&M, Arizona State, and Tennessee.
When UCLA offered on NSD, that may have clinched the deal right then and there. Coach Adrian Klemm called to notify the 6’4”, 275 pound, talent. Ray’s response taken from a previous RNG interview, “I ran across school telling everyone I was offered by UCLA. That was great.”
On Feb. 27, Ray checked out Arizona State and on March 3, he unofficially visited UCLA. Ray made his commitment official on Twitter posting, “I would like to first start off by thanking God for all the Blessings and Opportunities he has presented me. I would then like to thank my Family, Friends, Coaches, and every university who has offered me a scholarship for believing in me. After a long and tough recruiting process, I will be attending the…. University of California Los Angeles. #GoBruins #4’sUp.”
UCLA also picked up a verbal commitment from Richmond (TX) offensive lineman Will Farrar on Friday. Farrar was highly sought after as well securing at least 23 offers before committing to the Bruins. Among the teams trying lure the Travis High School star included Washington, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Northwestern, West Virginia, Mississippi State, Michigan State, Cal, and Arizona State.
The Bruins now have six recruits committed to their 2017 class.
UCLA Bruins 2017 Verbal Commitment List
DB Rhedi Short, 6-1, 185, Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, CA
DE Hunter Echols, 6-4, 220, Cathedral HS, Los Angeles, CA
DE Javaris Steward, 6-2, 220, Pomona HS, Pomona, CA
LB Rahyme Johnson, 6-4, 196, Salesian HS, Los Angeles, CA
OL Will Farrar, 6-4, 300, Travis HS, Richmond, TX
OL Kanan Ray, 6-4, 275, Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, CA
Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Kanan Ray at a Sierra Canyon practice.