UCLA Football: Bruins Snag Star QB On Signing Day
It took some finagling, but when the dust settled on National Signing Day, your UCLA Bruins got their man.
With Boston College breathing down their necks, the Bruins managed to secure the services of prep school phenom quarterback Henry Hasselbeck out of Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachussetts, reports Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times.
“There’s great history and tradition in that family,” head coach Chip Kelly said of Hassleback, whose quarterback father, Matt, was a three-time Pro Bowler during a lengthy pro career. “I don’t think you can have enough quarterbacks.”
The 6'2.5", 180-pound Hasselbeck is seen as a three-star recruit, per 247Sports, and is ranked as the 54th-best quarterback in his draft class.
The surprise departure of standout true freshman Dante Moore for the NCAA's transfer portal this year may have inspired UCLA to shore up the signal caller position a bit more than the team otherwise would have this offseason.
Bolch notes that UCLA also added another prep school stud today, as it officially locked down commit Karson Gordon of Bellaire Episcopal High School in Texas.
Per Bolch, Ethan Garber is expected to retain starting duties next season, with Colin Schlee, Justyn Martin and Luke Duncan all set to compete for that backup gig behind him, along with now Hasselbeck and Gordon.