UCLA offensive line targets appear on SI All-American's tackle, interior watch lists

Josh Conerly Jr. highlights the Bruin O-line recruits recognized by the site

(Photo Courtesy of Josh Conerly Jr./Twitter)

The Bruins have some highly-touted offensive linemen on their list for 2022.

SI All-American released their watch lists for the top 10 offensive tackles and top 10 interior offensive linemen in the class of 2022 on Friday and Saturday. The highest-ranked UCLA target between the two lists is uncommitted Josh Conerly Jr., who ranked No. 5 on the tackles list.

The Seattle native is entering his senior year at Rainier Beach (WA) and measures in at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds. UCLA offered Conerly on Sept. 1, 2020, and is currently in his top 12 with Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, California, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Stanford, Texas, USC and Washington.

SI All-American's John Garcia and Brooks Austin had this to say about Conerly's game:

A plus athlete on both sides of the football for Rainer Beach, Conerly is dominant from opening kick to the closing whistle. The lighter frame will hold a considerable amount of weight once in a college weight program. Any offensive lineman with these hips, hands, and movement skills will translate to collegiate success with little to no doubt. Conerly has an elite quickness in his first two steps, an invaluable skill for a young lineman. 

After including UCLA as a finalist this spring, Conerly raved about the program's coaching staff and emphasis on academics, among other draws.

"I really love their staff, I get to talk to their staff at least once a week," Conerly told 247Sports on May 11. "As a public institution and how good their education is, that set it off for me. And they’re developing and getting better year by year and I could bring some new fire to the team."

Conerly is rated as a five-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite and is a consensus top 50 player in the country.

The next UCLA target to appear on the pair of lists is uncommitted Earnest Greene, who slotted in at No. 9 on the interior offensive lineman watch list. Greene, a 6-foot-5, 335-pound product of St. John Bosco (CA), has offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, USC and 20 other Power Five schools.

UCLA offered Greene on Sept. 1, 2020, and he took an unofficial visit back on April 19, 2019.

Here's a look at Garcia and Austin's scouting report of Greene:

Greene is a wide body playing against the nation's top competition and clearing pathways anyway. His snap quickness, punch and extension stun defenders and he works with better leverage than a 6'5" frame may suggest. As he matures and re-shapes his body for the college game, enhancing his clear strengths and minimizing some of what we don't see on tape, Greene may be a prospect we regret not having higher on out board, but we will have close eyes on him this fall as California gets back to a full fall schedule. 

UCLA did not make it into Greene's top 10 when he named his finalists on March 17. Still, anything is possible, and considering his holistic views on where he wants to play in college, the Bruins can still cross their fingers and hope for the best.

"I’m looking for whatever fits the best on and off the field," Greene told 247Sports on Sept. 4 of last year. "On the field I’m looking for where I can get developed the best. Off the field, academically, I’m looking to be an entrepreneur, maybe go in to real estate or something like that when I’m done playing so I’m looking for great networking opportunities off the field as well.”

Both Conerly and Greene have accepted invitations to the All-American Bowl, which will be televised on NBC on Jan. 8.

No. 8 offensive tackle Jake Taylor, who plays his high school ball at Bishop Gorman (NV) in Las Vegas, also hauled in a UCLA offer on Sept. 1, 2020, but he committed to Oklahoma on July 7 without taking a visit to Westwood.

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