UCLA Football: How DeShaun Foster Can Be A Better Recruiter Than Chip Kelly

Examining a couple of ways that new UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster can improve a historically poor recruiting pitch

Chip Kelly did not recruit well at UCLA near the end of his run. While he did occasionally win in the transfer portal and landed the number one overall recruit in quarterback Dante Moore in 2023, Kelly left a ton of holes in both the roster and the coaching staff at the time of his departure. Ironically, he may not have to improve as a recruiter given the situation he's stepping into at Ohio State. 

So where does that leave DeShaun Foster and the Bruins as they enter spring practice to prepare for their inaugural season in the mighty Big-10? The short answer is, tremendously unprepared. When you look at what USC, Oregon, and Washington did in preparation for the move to the Big-10, a striking juxtaposition begins to rear its head. Oregon, USC, and Washington finished 3rd, 17th, and 33rd, respectively, in 247 Sports' 2024 team recruiting rankings.

UCLA finished ranked just 88th nationally, with just 10 recruits in their 2024 class. While they did manage to recruit some good talent, the quantity of players in their 2024 class is lightyears behind that of perennial contenders like Alabama, Michigan, and Georgia.

So, what are some ways that Foster can reshape his program's recruiting pitch? 

#3: Leverage NFL Experience

DeShaun Foster had an above-average NFL career as a running back for both the Panthers and the 49ers. Not many coaches can say that. Before taking the head coaching role at UCLA, Foster took the running backs coach role with the Las Vegas Raiders. Highlighting his connections and familiarity with professional football can go a long way in an age where so many high school recruits covet programs with NFL pipelines. 

#2: Build a Staff of Proven Recruiters

Lincoln Riley did a masterful job and is being lauded by recruiting experts for the recent rebuilding of his defensive staff. Foster's most pressing job at the moment is to build a staff that can both develop and recruit talent. Bringing in coaches with proven recruiting chops will be essential to the long and short-term success of Foster's Bruins.

#1: Focus on Local Talent

There have been multiple instances of Chip Kelly, when asked about how he recruits locally versus nationally, giving untraditional answers. Whereas programs like USC express a deep desire to keep local talent local, Kelly would often respond to those questions by highlighting his national approach rather than the local. Given how talent-rich the Southern California area is, it would behoove Foster to refocus his efforts on local recruits who, in theory, might be a bit easier to recruit given the proximity to home. 

At least initially, this is the quickest way for Foster to kick-start his new program's recruiting efforts.