Speedy 2023 cornerback Rodrick Pleasant earns UCLA offer after campus visit
The Bruins' dead period is officially over, and they're starting off their mid-summer recruiting run with a big local offer.
UCLA football offered cornerback Rodrick Pleasant a scholarship Wednesday after hosting the class of 2023 defensive back on a visit earlier in the day. Pleasant is entering his junior season at Junipero Serra (CA), located just 17 miles south of Westwood, and he was high school teammates with incoming UCLA freshman defensive back Devin Kirkwood.
Pleasant has over a dozen Division I offers, including ones from Texas, USC, Tennessee, Oregon, Arizona State and others.
In addition to spending some time at receiver, Pleasant also doubles as a track star. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Gardena native runs a 10.32-second 100-meter dash, faster than the 10.44-second time UCLA running back Kazmeir Allen posted when he won the California State Championships in 2018.
Pleasant is labeled as a four-star recruit in the 247Sports composite ratings, ranking as the No. 17 player in California and No. 22 cornerback in the country. The local athlete recently appeared in front of scouts and coaches at The Opening Invitational, a 7-on-7 camp in Manhattan Beach that took place from July 1-3.
The defining trait for Pleasant is obviously his speed, as he has been heralded as one of the fastest prospects on the West Coast. His coverage skills have upside as well though, just looking at some recent tape of him shutting down 6-foot-5 four-star wideout Ja'Kobi Lane and 6-foot-3 four-star receiver Williams Fowles in practice.
UCLA has yet to secure a commit for its 2023 recruiting class. Of its 10 commits for the class of 2022, none are cornerbacks.
Needless to say, adding Pleasant into the fold would be a major plus for the Bruins' staff.
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